Need to decentralize, delegate power, increase initiative for Vinh City

(Baonghean) - Decentralization and delegation of power to increase initiative and promote more efficiency in State management for Vinh city has been a long-standing issue. This was also the issue discussed and agreed upon in the meeting between the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee on the morning of October 17.

Breakthrough is not clear

Reporting to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vinh City Party Secretary Vo Viet Thanh stated that the city's economic breakthrough is not yet clear. This is demonstrated by the city's average growth rate in the 2011-2015 period, which only reached 7.92% compared to the target of 16.5%. The city's average annual budget revenue growth rate during this period only reached 2.42% compared to the congress' target of 21-22%.

Along with that, Vinh city is facing a series of problems such as poor planning management, land management, urban order, and violations; construction and formation of civilized urban lifestyle have not met development requirements... The construction of Vinh city to become the center of the North Central region in some areas is still slow, not really positive such as: science - technology, information technology, high-tech industry, sports.

This is a challenge and pressure for the province's leading development locality when the time to implement the goals and targets for this urban area by 2020 is to become the center of the North Central region in finance, trade, tourism, science - technology, information technology, high-tech industry, health care, culture, sports, education and training.

Part of Vinh city center. Photo: SM

At the meeting between the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee, many opinions were put forward to guide and resolve many related issues for the city. Director of the Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Do said that in implementing Resolution 26 of the Politburo, Vinh City is a center for services and high-tech industrial development. However, the solution to mobilize resources of this locality is not commensurate with the demand.

“The first direction is for Vinh city to mobilize ODA resources. Currently, the Department of Planning and Investment is mobilizing ODA from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the city’s green urban issues. However, to mobilize effectively, the city should have a department to mobilize funding. The second is to effectively implement the public-private partnership (PPP) model; at the same time, proactively attract and increase socialization in attracting investment; exploit land potential”...

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council Cao Thi Hien raised another aspect of economic development, which is the suburban agricultural sector of Vinh city: "Although the proportion of the agricultural sector in the economic structure is not large, it is necessary to determine the direction of agriculture to meet the needs of Vinh city residents with products such as: clean vegetables, flowers...".

Localized flooding is a challenging problem for Vinh city. Photo courtesy of Nghe An Newspaper.

In addition, many delegates attending the meeting also emphasized solutions to create breakthroughs in infrastructure, build civilized urban lifestyles; solve the problem of encroachment on corridors and sidewalks, handle local flooding, and traffic jams due to the rapid increase in traffic density, especially cars.

Director of the Department of Transport Nguyen Hong Ky said: On average, in a peak month, the number of newly registered cars is 1,000, while the average is about 600 - 700. Therefore, the demand for parking lots is increasing to avoid illegal parking, affecting traffic safety, and he suggested that the city should build parking lots because there are none yet.

Promote decentralization for cities

To solve the problem of breakthrough growth for Vinh city as well as to resolve existing problems and limitations, in addition to the resources of the Central and the province, decentralization and delegation of power to increase initiative and improve the effectiveness of State management work in the area for the city government is necessary.

Agreeing with the view that it is necessary to strongly decentralize to Vinh city, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien gave examples such as decentralizing authority to the city in merging land plots with an area of ​​750m2 or less, or assigning authority to the City People's Committee to decide on the management, operation, and exploitation of the urban traffic system, except for provincial roads and national highways passing through the area... which can be completely implemented.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong agreed with the view that it is necessary to boldly decentralize to the city. "Based on today's comments, Vinh City will summarize the content so that the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee can preside over the work with the sectors. Whatever is correct, we will decentralize immediately, whatever is still stuck in the regulations, we propose that the Standing Committee let the city do a pilot project," the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested that the city needs to be proactive and decisive, proactively implementing whatever can be done, and promptly reporting in writing any matter beyond its authority. Sectors need to work with the city to pilot many issues and contents.

Supporting the policy of boldly piloting decentralization for Vinh city, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Son stated that Vinh must be a livable city, "only then can it attract human, material and financial resources". To do so, Vinh city must manage planning well as well as solve problems related to hygiene, environment, food safety and infrastructure.

Transaction at the one-stop center of Vinh City Tax Department. Photo: Thanh Le

Concerned with the development speed of Vinh city, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh requested that the locality needs to have a harmonious perspective between vision and clearly define the core goals in the development process. Going into each specific issue, the Provincial Party Secretary requested that the issue of planning and planning management is a clear task and must be well implemented, along with the public disclosure of planning to attract investment as well as for officials and people to carry out supervision work; at the same time, building a civilized, green - clean - beautiful city.

In particular, with the goal of becoming the center of the North Central region, Vinh city must develop in the direction of a converging city with the foundation of being the center of innovation and startups of the province and region; having architectural characteristics; friendly and hospitable people; having good services in both the State and people's sectors; creating attractiveness for investors, scientists and cultural figures. "I request that comrades base on the criteria for management, try to persistently create those values", the Provincial Party Secretary emphasized.

Along with the strong development of the service industry in the economic structure, the Provincial Party Secretary said that Vinh city should promote the development of clean industry associated with clear planning to attract investment, as well as calculate the relocation of industrial parks offshore in the inner city area.

"Cities that come later need to learn from the experiences of previously developed cities to go in the right direction, so they should pay attention, refer to models for development and selectively absorb them to build Vinh city," comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh pointed out.

The Provincial Party Secretary also requested Vinh City to pay attention to developing and promulgating a list of programs and projects that need investment until 2020. From there, proactively promote, attract investment, mobilize resources inside and outside the province, abroad and well implement the projects being invested; promote administrative reform in the direction of cleanliness, transparency, serving the people, investors and the city must be a leading example in the province, applying information technology in administrative work.

Vinh City is focusing on developing suburban agriculture in line with the needs of urban residents. Photo courtesy of Nghe An Newspaper

At the same time, innovate and research land clearance policies in a direction that harmonizes the interests of people, businesses and the State; resolutely reclaim slow-moving projects and combat land speculation.

The Provincial Party Secretary also emphasized the effective use of the city's land fund, harmonious development of services, trade, and industry; completion of the new rural construction work in the direction of suburban residents having a high standard of living, suitable landscape, land fund for developing entertainment areas; distribution and organization of residential areas.

Regarding the recommendations on decentralization to Vinh city, the Provincial Party Secretary agreed and pointed out: The contents within the authority of the Provincial People's Committee are requested to be reviewed by the Provincial People's Committee and what can be delegated to the city to do. Any issues that are within the legal regulations and authority of the Government, if piloted, will be assigned to the city for piloting; and for issues that cannot be piloted, Vinh city is requested to collect and propose to the Provincial National Assembly Delegation to make recommendations to all levels.

Nhat Le