Working group to create Local Power Code published in DR

O order that determines the creation of the Working Group for the preparation of a preproject of Local Power Code, which will gather legislation of local authorities, was today published in Diário da República (DR).

The technical and institutional working group, which will depend on the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Regional Planning, will have the “mission to review, systematize and improve the main legal acts relating to the Local Government”.

The group should also prepare a pre-project of Local Government Code, without prejudice to the work carried out under the Revision of the Local Finance Act.

The working party shall submit an interim report to the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Regional Planning within three months.

Within eight months, the group shall submit to the Secretary of State “the preliminary draft Local Power Code, accompanied by a report justifying the proposed solutions”.

Directing the working group will be Maria José Castanheira Neves, who will be accompanied by Hugo Silva and representatives of the Directorate General of Local Authorities (DGAL), the Committees of Regional Coordination and Development (CCDR), the Autonomous Regions, the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM), the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) and the National Association of Freguesias (Anafre).

“ The activity of the members of the Working Group does not confer the right to any benefit, irrespective of its nature, in particular as remuneration, compensation, subsidy, presence passwords or subsistence allowances”, is referred to in the order.

The order, signed by the Minister for Economic Affairs and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, takes effect from today.

On 23 October, the government set up the working group to create the Local Power Code, which will bring together specific legislation of local authorities, with the aim of simplifying their consultation and clarifying their interpretation.

“ It is time to turn everything into a single code that makes the reading of legislation and the understanding of legislation on local power easier, more transparent, clearer, with less misconceptions”, said Minister Castro Almeida.

In addition to the drafting of the new code, the government intends to revise the Local Finance Act and the status of local elected representatives, and it is also under consideration a possible change to the local electoral law, whose current legislative changes should subsequently be integrated into the Local Power Code.