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Local
Assemblies and Resident Participation
—The Future Modality of Local Municipalities—
(May 20, 2003)
Council on Resident Participation |
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The
Council on Resident Participation has announced reports on
resident participation and particularly on local referendums
twice in the past. Based on those reports, the current report
examines various aspects and mid- to long-term issues concerning
the “role of local assemblies,” which serve as the
core decision-making body for local municipalities. It not only
seeks means to revitalize local assemblies, but through the
process of examination, it also presents basic concepts and
options regarding the fundamental issue on future styles (governance
structure) of local municipalities and local assemblies. Indeed,
from the viewpoint that discussions should be open to the
public, the report explores various possibilities regarding
governance styles, including the adoption of a city-manager
system and parliamentary Cabinet system, and the utilization
of general town meetings depending on the size of local municipalities.
In future, the modality of local municipalities is expected to
become a focal issue accompanying the progress of decentralization
and municipal amalgamations. Although this report examines
the role of local assemblies from the perspective of resident
participation, the modality of local municipalities (governance
structure) ultimately depends on the judgment of residents.
The JPC-SED hopes this report will serve as a catalyst
to promote national debates on new styles of local
municipalities under the principle of resident participation.
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