Background

The work of the Municipal Councils together with the executive authorities represented by mayors and municipal administrations, directly relates to all municipal activities. The Municipal Councils and Municipal Councilors constantly communicate with citizens and periodically resolve their problems.

At the same time, all the diverse activity related to the work of the Municipal Councils often does not receive enough publicity or is wrongly interpreted by the media. On the whole, different government and public institutions, and especially citizens, are not clearly acquainted with the work of the Municipal Councils their functions, rights and capabilities. Using information technologies and developing an Internet site is a natural display of the strive of the Municipal Council of Nessebar to explain and make public its activities to all interested in its work.

Practice

The development of an Internet site by itself is not a difficult task. The difficulties met came from the fact that up to the moment there was not enough experience in designing this kind of public Internet sites. Electronic information about the work of municipal councils in many cases is not accurate and up-to-date, which seriously confuses those using the website. Usually there is no possibility included for feedback from the citizens.

The Municipal Council of Nessebar has experience in publishing various materials related to its activities. These are regulations, instructions, letters, and announcements that are freely distributed among the citizens. For the first time the Municipal Council of Nessebar started issuing its own Information Bulletin (information about it has been published in the collection of innovative practices).

The longstanding experience of the Chairman of the Municipal Council in the field of technologies as well as careful discussion of the citizen needs for various kinds of information contributed to the creation of the site. The examples of Internet sites of the Foundation for Local Government Reform, National Association of the Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, RAM Trakia and other non-governmental organizations related to local self-government, were used.

The development of the website reflects the specifics of the work of the Municipal Council, and presents the maximum of the multidimensional activity of the municipal councilors, including pictures, incoming and outgoing correspondence, etc. The Internet site offers quick and easy access to information, an opportunity for feedback, and a multiple choice survey.

The Council held a research on companies to develop the website, and accepted the most favorable offer. The development process took about a month, and in November 2002 all interested citizens could read about the activity of the Municipal Council of Nessebar in the world wide web.

Results

The implementation of the Internet site of the Municipal Council of Nessebar is important not only for the citizens of the Municipality of Nessebar, but also for other municipal councils and partner non-governmental organizations working in the field of local self-government. The page offers links for communication with their own websites.

The Internet site of the Municipal Council of Nessebar contributes to the transparency of the work of the municipality. It has created one more possibility for communication and feedback from citizens, who now enjoy easy access information. Last, but not least, the goal of the website is to inform young people working with the Internet, of the activities of the Municipal Council and, this way, involve them in the problems of the local self-government.