INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES OF THE LUTSK CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION

Abstract

The analysis of the evolution of the institutional structure of the Lutsk City Council in the conditions of administrative and territorial reform on the basis of decentralization in 2014–2023 has been carried out. Quantitative and qualitative changes of its executive committee, departments, administrations, offices and commissions, depending on the socio-economic development of the country and the policy of the central government have been shown. Attention has been focused on the processes of decentralization, which are accompanied by the transfer of powers of state authorities to localities. The progress of the implementation of the tasks «Concept of reforming local self-government and organization of territorial power in Ukraine», the requirements of the laws of Ukraine «On access to public information», «On state registration of legal entities and individuals», «On the authorization system in the sphere of economic activity», Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers «On the town-planning cadastre», etc. has been revealed. The positive changes that took place during the researched period in the activities of the Lutsk City Council in the direction of greater transparency, controllability and accountability to the territorial community have been proven. The positive experience of the city council in bringing services closer to the city population through a specially created department − the Center for the provision of administrative services in the city of Lutsk has been attested. With the aim of providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine, territorial defense units, other military formations, internally displaced persons and communities in need of humanitarian aid with food and non-food items, the Lutsk central aid point has been operating in the city since February 25, 2022.