Innovation in the operation of People's Councils at all levels

The inspection and supervision team of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council conducted a field survey in Cao Loc town as part of its inspection and supervision activities regarding the implementation of voters' opinions and recommendations following the supervision of the District People's Committee and some related agencies and units.

– From the beginning of the 2021-2026 term to the present, the People's Councils at all levels in the province have made many innovations in organizing their sessions as well as in monitoring the opinions and recommendations of voters. This has contributed to effectively fulfilling their role as the state power organ at the local level, representing the will, aspirations, and right to self-governance of the people.

Since the beginning of its term, the Provincial People's Council has successfully held 21 sessions, including regular sessions, specialized sessions, and sessions addressing unforeseen issues; the management of these sessions has been continuously improved and innovated to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the People's Council's operations. Through these sessions, over 200 resolutions have been issued across all fields, creating an important legal basis for the successful implementation of the province's 5-year socio -economic development plan for 2020-2025.

Strengthening questioning sessions at People's Council meetings.

Notably, the regular mid-year, year-end, and thematic sessions of the Provincial People's Council have devoted significant time to questioning and answering sessions. For example, at the regular mid-year session in 2023, the Provincial People's Council received 29 questions from delegates, of which 10 were directly addressed during the session; at the regular year-end session, there were 20 questions from delegates, of which 13 were directly addressed. The questions directly addressed issues of concern to voters, thereby clarifying the responsibilities of various levels and sectors in many fields such as education , economy, environment, telecommunications, transportation, planning, and policies implementing national target programs. A new feature of this session was the Provincial People's Council's introduction of image projection equipment to support presentations, questioning, and explanations by delegates, the Provincial People's Council Committees, and members of the Provincial People's Committee. This contributes to the application of information technology in the activities of the sessions, while also enriching the presentation and explanation methods, making it easier for delegates to visualize the actual situation of the topics discussed.

Representative Vy Quang Dung, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, stated: Based on surveys and feedback from voters, the current situation regarding livestock and poultry slaughtering in the province and city is complex, unscientific, and lacks centralized management, failing to ensure environmental protection. Therefore, at the regular session at the end of 2023, I raised concerns, accompanied by illustrative images, to question the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Director of the Department of Planning and Investment regarding the planning and roadmap for the construction of centralized livestock and poultry slaughtering facilities in the province and Lang Son city; and solutions for controlling food safety and environmental pollution…

Provincial People's Council representatives raised questions at the regular year-end session of the Provincial People's Council in 2023.

Not only did the provincial People's Council representatives ask practical questions with vivid illustrations, but they also closely followed up on voters' requests to question them or monitor unresolved issues raised in previous sessions, so they could raise them again in subsequent meetings. Representative Linh Thi Hien, Deputy Head of the Economic and Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council, representing Van Lang district, stated: "Through meetings with voters in Van Lang district, voters have repeatedly requested investment in and renovation of the Na Sam bridge (built in 1986, now dilapidated, lacking railings, and dangerous for pedestrians). At the mid-year regular session in 2023 (July 2023), I questioned the Director of the Department of Planning and Investment about the investment in the construction of the Na Sam bridge." In response to my questions, the director of the department stated that the provincial People's Committee leaders had taken note of the voters' opinions, but due to limited provincial funds, the province would consider putting the investment project into the 2023-2024 period, with the project implementation expected to take place in the 2025-2028 period.

Not only at the provincial level, but also at the district and commune levels, the People's Councils have focused on innovating and improving the quality and effectiveness of their sessions. From 2021 to the present, district-level People's Councils have held over 130 sessions, passing over 700 resolutions. These sessions have completed their planned agendas, ensuring quality and adherence to prescribed procedures. The presiding officer's work has been conducted according to regulations; the review of resolutions and feedback on reports presented at the sessions have been actively discussed and commented on by the delegates. The People's Committee and specialized agencies and units at the district level are responsible for answering questions and clarifying issues of concern to the People's Council delegates. Notably, the questioning and explanation sessions at the People's Council meetings were broadcast live by 8 out of 10 districts (Loc Binh, Cao Loc, Van Lang, Trang Dinh, Van Quan, Binh Gia, Bac Son, and Lang Son City), effectively reaching wards, communes, and towns in the area for voters to easily follow. Some districts have successfully implemented information technology in organizing the meetings, such as using People's Council software to transfer meeting documents and adopting a paperless meeting model (Binh Gia, Van Lang, Huu Lung districts and Lang Son City).

Mr. Dinh Xuan Dong, Vice Chairman of the Binh Gia District People's Council, said: "From the beginning of the 2021-2026 term until now, at the council meetings, we have dedicated more time to questioning than in the previous term, averaging one questioning session per meeting. Through the People's Council meetings, the district People's Council representatives have asked over 50 questions focusing on issues of concern to voters, regulations, policies, land, the reasons for delays in projects, and limitations in socio-economic development. The issues raised have been explained and clarified by the representatives, agencies, and units right at the People's Council meetings, contributing to improving the quality of the meetings."

Strengthening the monitoring of the resolution of voters' petitions.

In addition to innovating and improving the quality of meetings, People's Councils at all levels have also strengthened the responsibility of delegate groups and People's Council delegates in supervising the resolution of voters' opinions and recommendations. People's Councils at all levels combine supervision through reports, citizen reception, and handling of petitions; incorporating pressing issues and incidents into the agenda of regular sessions and specialized supervision sessions of the Standing Committee and People's Council Committees; and simultaneously conducting explanations and questioning sessions on issues of concern to delegates and voter recommendations that have been slow to be resolved.

For example, in 2023, through numerous surveys and monitoring activities by the Provincial People's Council Committees, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council considered and selected several issues to hold explanatory sessions to clarify matters of concern to voters and the public. Specifically, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council held three explanatory sessions on the limitations and difficulties in vocational training and job creation for rural laborers; the management and use of local budget funds entrusted to the Social Policy Bank for lending to create, maintain, and expand jobs; the current situation and solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of traffic safety; and one questioning session on the current situation and solutions to improve the productivity, quality, and economic value of anise flowers in the province. Immediately after the sessions, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council issued a notice summarizing the conclusions and forwarded 38 recommendations to the Central Government, the Provincial People's Committee, specialized agencies, and the People's Committees of districts and cities to address existing shortcomings and limitations, and propose solutions for implementation; at the same time, it assigned committees to monitor, urge, and supervise the recommendations according to their assigned areas.

Accordingly, the monitoring of the resolution of voters' petitions has been given attention and implemented by People's Councils at all levels with many creative and innovative approaches. Mr. Dinh Huu Hoc, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, stated: The Standing Committee and the Committees of the Provincial and District People's Councils focus on monitoring, urging, and supervising functional agencies in resolving voters' opinions and petitions. This includes prioritizing the classification and processing of petitions and forwarding them to competent authorities for consideration, resolution, and response to voters as prescribed. Basically, the opinions and petitions of voters have been resolved by competent authorities in accordance with the law and the actual situation; the specific and clear petitions have facilitated timely and accurate guidance and management by functional agencies to resolve difficulties and obstacles for the people. From the beginning of the 2021 term to the present, the entire province has received over 2,600 petitions from voters submitted to the People's Council sessions, with an average resolution rate of over 60%. The rate of complete resolution of petitions by some district-level People's Councils is high, such as: Lang Son City (98.7%); Chi Lang District (98%); and Dinh Lap District (90%).

At the commune and town level, in recent times, through meetings with voters and listening to their feedback, the Standing Committee of the People's Council at the commune and town level has selected many important issues related to socio-economic development, new rural construction; rural road construction; building schools that meet national standards; and policies for the people to organize supervision, thereby promptly resolving difficulties and accelerating implementation progress... Mr. Hoang Ngoc Bang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Chi Lang town, Chi Lang district, said: Since the beginning of the term, the People's Council and the Standing Committee of the People's Council of the town have conducted 9 thematic supervision sessions with contents such as: the situation of implementing the resolutions of the People's Council of the town in socio-economic development; collection and expenditure of various public funds contributed by the people; Mobilizing social resources to repair school facilities… each monitoring session resulted in 3-4 recommendations, which were basically accepted and implemented by leaders at all levels and relevant units.

Mr. Luong Van Long, Party Secretary and Head of Block 15, Hoang Van Thu Ward, Lang Son City, said: Following feedback from voters in the block regarding the lack of a wastewater pipeline and the unsightly appearance of the hillside area in front of the block, and with the attention of local authorities and contributions from residents, in 2023, the block invested in a wastewater pipeline from the beginning of Nguyen Thuong Hien Street to Bac Son Street. The hillside area, covering over 300 square meters, was leveled with stone, and equipped with flowerbeds, sports equipment, and benches, creating a recreational and exercise area for residents both within and outside the block.

The above facts affirm that, with the functions and tasks assigned to them, the People's Councils at all levels have been effectively fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, striving to make the activities of the People's Councils at all levels increasingly innovative, practical, effective, and of high quality.

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