Drafters give local bodies more clout

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday approved proposals aimed at giving local governing bodies more say in their administration.

CDC spokesman Chartchai Na Chiang Mai said the CDC approved six proposed charter sections on decentralisation.

The proposals will enable local residents to choose a form of local administration that responds best to their specific needs. It may be either direct elections of local leaders or indirect elections through local councils, Mr Chartchai said.

“The main point is that when local bodies are established with the ability to run their own financial affairs, the population and density must be taken into account,” he said.

Under the proposals, local administrative bodies will be given the authority to provide public services or hire private sector operators to do so under their supervision.

The government must ensure the bodies enjoy financial independence by allocating sufficient funds for them to run local public services.

However, the draft charter does not specify exactly how much would be allocated to them from the central budget, as it depends on the financial state of the country, Mr Chartchai said.

The government must come up with clear plans to delegate authority to run public services to local bodies, while legislation must be passed to accommodate the establishment and operations of local administrative bodies, he said.

The new draft charter is also open to the establishment of specific administrative entities such as special economic zones with local residents allowed to participate in running the zones.

Under the proposals, members of local bodies will be elected while executives of local bodies will either be elected directly or selected by local councils.

Requirements for candidates applying for local bodies or local executive seats will be specified in an organic law, and are expected to be similar to those for MPs or senators, Mr Chartchai said.

Members of local bodies, local councils and local executives would also be required to reveal information on their work, projects and budget to the public, he said,

Mr Chartchai said that at least one fifth of voters in a constituency could propose a local ordinance or submit a motion to impeach members or executives of local bodies.