Atspausdinta iš e-seimas.lrs.lt

SUPREME SOVIET OF THE LITHUANIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

 

LAW

 

ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

(Adopted at  the Seventeenth Session of the Supreme Soviet of the

Lithuanian SSR, Eleventh Convocation, 12 February 1990)

 

Chapter 1

 

General Principles

 

 

Article 1. Concept and Legal Regulation of Local Government

 

1. Local  government shall  be the  independent activity  on

resolving local  issues and  implementing the  decisions  adopted

under law  as  carried  out  by  the  citizens  residing  on  the

territory of  administrative-territorial units of the Republic of

Lithuania and  by the  bodies of  local government accountable to

them.

2.   Local government  shall be  the unity  of the  citizens

residing on  the territory of the administrative-territorial unit

and the bodies of state power and government formed by them.

3.   Local governments of the Republic shall be regulated by

the Constitution  (Basic Law)  of the Republic of Lithuania, this

Law and  also laws  of the  Republic of Lithuania or of the local

government of  rural territorial  units, settlements,  towns  and

regions, and also by other laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

 

Article 2.  Principles of Local Government

 

The underlying  principles of  local government  shall be as

follows:

 

1) direct  participation of  the citizens of the Republic of

Lithuania in  the preparation,        consideration, adoption and

implementation of  decisions on  public life  matters that are of

importance for them;

2)  supremacy of the representative state power bodies and

their officials  to the  citizens, and  control exercised  by the

citizens;

3) accountability  of  local  government  bodies  and  their

officials to the citizens, and control exercised by the citizens;

4) economic independence;

5) openness and response to public opinion;

6) social justice;

7) law and its enforcement; and

8) priority  given to  contractual relations in the activity

of local government bodies.

 

Article 3.  Territorial Foundations of Local Government

 

1.   The foundation for the organisation of local government

shall be  administrative-territorial units  of  the  Republic  of

Lithuania established  and altered  by the Supreme Council of the

Republic of Lithuania.

2.   There shall  be two  levels of  local government:   the

lower level and the higher level.

The lower  level of local government shall embrace the rural

territorial units, settlements, and regional cities.

The higher  level of  local government shall embrace regions

and towns under the Republic's jurisdiction.

3. Taking  into consideration  the interests and requests of

the citizens residing on the territory, the  appropriate councils

of people's  deputies (hereinafter:  councils of local government

or councils)  authorised by  the Presidium of the Supreme Council

of  the   Republic  of  Lithuania  may  divide  their  respective

territory into smaller units to better organise their government.

 

Article 4.  Means for the Implementation of Local

Government

 

1. Local  government shall  be implemented through the forms

of direct and representative democracy.

2.   The most  important forms  of direct  democracy through

which local  government is implemented shall be civic initiative,

participation of citizens in the discussion and resolution of all

significant  questions,   election  of   representation   bodies,

participation in  the implementation  of  adopted  decisions  and

possibility to  exercise  control  over  the  activity  of  local

government bodies.

3. The  basis of  representative democracy  of  local  self-

government  shall  be  local  government  councils    elected  in

accordance with  the Law on the Election of Deputies to the Local

Councils of People's Deputies.

Local  government   councils  shall  form  executive  bodies

subordinate and  accountable to  them, govern  them  and  control

their activity.

 

 

Chapter 2

State Governing Bodies of Local Government

 

Article 5.  Councils of People's Deputies

 

1.   The councils  of people's deputies shall constitute the

representative state  power body  of  local government within its

territory; it  shall  coordinate  the  activity  of  other  local

government  bodies,   direct  the   local  economy  and  cultural

activities, concern  itself with rational exploitation of natural

wealth and  protection of the environment, with the observance of

laws and  implementation of  government  directives,  and  ensure

public  order   and  protect   citizens'  rights  and  legitimate

interests.

2.   Local governments  shall have    the  rights  of  legal

person.

 

Article 6.  Sessions of the Council

 

1.   The basic  form of  work of  the Council  shall be  its

session.

2.   The first session of the newly elected council shall be

convened by  the appropriate  electoral committees not later than

two weeks  after the  elections, provided no less than two-thirds

of the deputies of the council are elected.  The first session of

the council  shall be  opened by  the chairman  of the  electoral

committee who  shall preside  over the session until the election

of the chairman of the council. (Amended 5 April 1990)

Subsequent sessions  of the council shall be convened by the

chairman (presidium)  of the  council on his own initiative or on

the demand  of no  less than  one-third of  the deputies  of  the

council, expressed  in writing  with the  indication of questions

which need  to be  considered, as  well as on the proposal of the

executive body of the local government. The chairman  (presidium)

of the  council shall  convene the  session not later than within

two weeks  from his  receipt of the deputies' demand to do so. If

the session  is not  timely convened,  it may  be convened on the

decision of  no less  than  one-third  of  the  deputies  of  the

council.

 

3.   A session  of the  council shall  be  valid  if  it  is

attended by  no less  than two-thirds  of all the deputies of the

council.

If the  session did  not take  place,  or  if  not  all  the

questions were considered at it owing to the absence of a quorum,

a new  session on  the basis  of the prior agenda, or sittings on

unconsidered questions  shall be  valid if attended by a majority

of the council deputies.

Decisions of the council shall be adopted by a majority vote

of all  the council  deputies if there is a quorum, or a majority

of the  number of the council deputies, except in cases where the

law provides otherwise. (Amended 19 July 1990)

 

Article 7.  Exclusive Competence of the Council

 

The council  shall be  empowered to  discuss and resolve all

issues that  are within  its competence  under the  laws  of  the

Republic of Lithuania. Exclusively at sessions the Council shall:

 

1) affirm the powers of the deputies and revoke their powers

before the  expiration of  their term  in the cases prescribed by

law;

2) elect  or release from duties the chairman of the council

and his deputies;

3) form  standing and  other committees,  groups of deputies

and other  bodies of  the council  and make  alterations in their

composition;

4) form  the auditing  committee and make alterations in its

composition;

5) form  execution bodies  subordinate to  the  council  and

approve their regulations;

6) consider the accounts of bodies of the council;

7) consider  the inquiries  of deputies  and adopt decisions

on them;

8) approve the rules of procedure of the council;

9) establish basic trends of economic and social development

of the local government and evaluate the results of their work;

10) approve the budget and the report on its implementation;

distribute additional  budgetary resources  and approve estimates

of and reports on the utilisation of nonbudgetary resources;

11)   establish    statutory   rules    of   ownership   and

administration of  objects owned  by local  government,  exercise

control over  their  exploitation  and  resolve  other  questions

related to property;

12) revoke permits to engage in economic activity or suspend

the work of enterprises,

institutions and  organisations in the event of violation of

laws on environmental

protection, land  use, exploitation of local natural wealth,

sanitation and health

care, and safety of utilisation of labour resources;

13) establish  reductions of  taxes, duties  and  deductions

into the Council budget paid by natural and legal persons;

14) establish local duties, issue voluntary loans;

15) approve the symbols of the appropriate local government;

16) approve  contracts concluded  by the executive bodies of

local government  in accordance with the procedure established by

law with  other local  governments, legal  and  natural  persons,

foreign  firms   and  also  with  local  governments  of  foreign

countries;

17) submit  for consideration  proposals on  administrative-

territorial division and adopt decisions in accordance with law;

18) consider  and resolve other issues which are assigned by

the council  within the  limits of  its powers  to its  exclusive

competence.

 

Article 8. Chairman of the Council

 

1. The  work of  the  council  shall  be  organised  by  the

chairman of  the  council  or  by  his  deputy,  and  with  local

governments of the higher level - the presidium of the council;

2. The  chairman and deputy chairman of the council shall be

elected at  the session  of the  council by secret ballot for the

term of office of the council but for no longer than two terms in

succession.

The chairman of the council shall:

 

1) represent the council in the relations with state bodies,

social organisations and other

public bodies and citizens;

2) organise  the preparation  of the  session of the council

and of issues submitted to it for

consideration, also  of control  over the  implementation of

the resolutions adopted by the council;

3) inform  the deputies and the public of the place and time

of the convocation of the

session and of the issues submitted for consideration;

4) coordinate  the work of standing and other committees and

groups of deputies formed by the council;

5) sign  the records  of the  session of  the  council,  the

resolutions of the council and inform the public of them; and

6) fulfill  other assignments  of the  council  and  perform

other powers prescribed by law.

 

The chairman  of the  council shall  be accountable  to  the

council. When  the chairman  cannot perform his duties, or in his

absence his  functions shall  be exercised by the deputy chairman

of the council.

The chairman of the council shall adopts decisions on issues

that are within the limits of his competence.

The council  shall have the right to revoke the decisions of

the chairman of the council.

On the  decision of  the council, the chairman or his deputy

may  be   dismissed  from   their  respective  posts  before  the

expiration of their terms of office.

The council shall consider the issue of the dismissal of the

chairman or his deputy from their respective posts at the session

of the  council either at their request or at the request no less

than one-third of council deputies.

The decision  to dismiss  the chairman of the council or his

deputy from  their respective  posts shall  be adopted  by secret

ballot.

The decision  of the council on the election of the chairman

of the  council or his deputy, as well as on their dismissal from

their respective  posts shall  be signed  by the deputy presiding

over the  session (at  the first  session of  the  newly  elected

council, during  the election of the chairman of the council - by

the chairman of the electoral committee).

 

Article 9. Committees and Groups of Deputies of the Council

 

1. Committees and groups of deputies of the council shall be

formed for  preliminary  consideration and preparation of issues,

also for  assisting to  implement the resolutions of the council,

exercising control  over the  observance of  laws of the Republic

and resolutions  of the  council by enterprises, institutions and

organisations located  on the  territory of the local government.

The council  may form  standing and  other committees,  groups of

deputies or other bodies.

2. The  competence of   said  bodies shall be established by

the  council   within  the  limits  its  powers.  They  shall  be

responsible and accountable to the council which elects them.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

Local Government of the Lower Level

 

Article 10. Institutions of Local Government of the Lower

Level

 

Institutions of  local government  of the  lower level shall

be:

body of power - council of people's deputies;

executive body  - chief local executive of rural territorial

unit or settlement, and mayor of regional town;

the auditing committee.

 

The specific  powers of the above bodies of local government

and the  organisation of  their activity  shall be established by

this Law,  the laws  of the  Republic of  Lithuania on  the local

government of rural territorial units, settlements and towns.

 

Article 11. Council of Local Government of the Lower Level

 

The  council   of  rural  territorial  unit,  settlement  or

regional town  shall exercise  the  powers  conferred  on  it  by

Article 7  of this  Law. Furthermore, exclusively at sessions the

council shall:

 

1) appoint  the chief local executive or the mayor and their

deputies and consider their

dismissal from their respective posts, establish salaries

of said officials, and also

supplementary  amounts payable  to the  chairman of  the

council or his deputy in accordance

with the salaries list approved by the Government of the

Republic of Lithuania and within

the limits of the established pay-roll fund;

2) determine  the sum  total of appropriations for the chief

local executive  or the  mayor, their  respective  deputies,  and

their staff; and

3) assign  plots of land to legal and natural persons in the

appropriate cases  and according  to the procedure established by

law.

 

Article 12. Executive Bodies of Local Government of Rural

Territorial Unit, Settlement and Regional Town

 

1. The  chief local  executive of  rural territorial unit or

settlement and the mayor of regional town shall be elected by the

appropriate councils  by secret  ballot for the term of office of

the council.  At the  recommendation of the chief local executive

or the  mayor the  council shall  appoint deputies  to the  chief

local executive or the mayor.

 

2. Any  citizen  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania  shall  be

eligible to  be appointed to the post of chief local executive or

the mayor and their respective deputies, provided he or she is 21

years of  age and over and has command of the state language. The

chief local  executive or the mayor and their respective deputies

may not, at the same time, be deputies of the council that elects

or appoints them.

 

3. Executive  bodies of  local government  shall function in

accordance with  the laws  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania,  the

resolutions of  the Government of the Republic and resolutions of

 

the appropriate  council, and  ensure the  implementation of  the

government function of the local government.

 

4. The  chief  local  executive  and  the  mayor  and  their

respective deputies  shall be  responsible and accountable to the

council that  elects or  appoints them.  At the  proposal of one-

third of  the deputies  the issue  of their  dismissal from their

respective posts  before the  expiration of  their term of office

shall be presented for consideration at the session.

Within the  limits of their powers the chief local executive

and the  mayor shall  issue regulations and exercise control over

their implementation.

The chief  local executive  and the  mayor shall  employ  or

release from  office members of their respective staff, fix their

salaries in  accordance with  the salaries  list approved  by the

Government of  the Republic of Lithuania and within the limits of

the established payroll fund.

 

Article 13.  Auditing Committee of Local Government of the

Lower Level

 

The council  of local  government shall  elect the  auditing

committee whose chairman or deputy chairman shall be the deputies

of the council that elects them.

The auditing  committee  shall  exercise  control  over  the

implementation of  the council  resolutions by  the  chief  local

executive and the mayor, and  audit their financial activity.

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

Institutions of Local Government of the Higher Level

 

Article 14.  Institutions of Local Government of the Higher

Level

 

1.   Institutions of  local government  of the  higher level

shall be:

 

body of power - council of people's deputies

executive institutions  - regional  manager  and  the  board

headed by  him, and  the mayor  of the  town under the Republic's

jurisdiction and the board headed by him the auditing committee.

 

2.   The specific  powers and  organisation of  work of  the

above bodies  shall be  defined by  this Law, and the Laws of the

Republic of  Lithuania on  Regional Local  Government and  on the

Local Government of Towns under the Republic's Jurisdiction.

 

Article 15.  Councils of Local Government of the Higher

Level.

 

The regional  council and  the council of the town under the

Republic's jurisdiction  shall exercise  the powers  conferred on

them by  Article 7  of this  Law.  In  addition,  exclusively  at

sessions, the council shall:

 

1)  form   the  presidium  of  the  council  and  alter  its

composition;

2) elect  the regional  manager and  the town mayor, appoint

their respective deputies and secretaries  of   the  council  and

relieve them  of their  respective posts,  approve and  alter the

composition of the regional and town boards;

form  departments   and  other   divisions  of  boards,  and

establish their powers;

approve  the   appointment     chief  executives,  with  the

exception of cases provided by law; (Amended 30 July 1990)

3)  establish  the  sum  total  of  appropriations  for  the

chairman of  the council  or his  deputy, the  secretariat of the

council, the board, its departments and other divisions;

establish the salaries of the chairman of the council and

his deputy,  the regional  manager, the mayor, their deputies and

the secretary,  and of  staff members  of the  secretariat of the

council in  accordance with  the salaries  list approved  by  the

Government of  the Republic of Lithuania and within the limits of

the established pay-roll fund.

 

Article 16.  Presidium of the Council

 

1.   The presidium of the council shall organise the work of

the regional  council and  of the  council of  the town under the

Republic's  jurisdiction,   and  also   perform  other  functions

prescribed by law.  The presidium of the council shall consist of

the following  members: the  chairman of the council, his deputy,

and chairmen  of the  standing committees  of  the  council.  The

council may  decide to  add other  members to  the presidium  who

shall be chosen from among the other deputies of the council.

2.  The presidium of the council shall:

 

1) organise  and call  sessions of  the council;  direct the

preparation of  issues to  be submitted  for consideration to the

council;

2) coordinate  the work of committees formed by the council,

or groups of deputies and other bodies of the council;

3) assist  deputies in  exercising their powers; supply them

with the necessary information;

4) ensure openness of the work of the council;

5) organise  public-opinion polls and also public discussion

of the  draft resolutions of the council and of other significant

issues;

6) organise the fulfillment of resolutions of the council;

7)  resolve   questions  related   to  the  organisation  of

elections as prescribed by law, and also

prepare proposals concerning suspension of the powers of

deputies before the expiration of their term of office; and

8) carry  out other  assignments of the council and exercise

powers assigned to it by law.

3.   The sessions  of the  presidium of the council shall be

called when necessary, and shall be presided over by the chairman

of the  council. Other  deputies of  the council  as well  as the

regional manager, the mayor, their deputies and the secretary may

take part in the session without the right to vote.

Resolutions of the presidium of the council shall be adopted

by  a  majority  vote  of  all  the  members  of  the  presidium.

Resolutions of  the presidium  of the  council shall be signed by

the chairman of the council.

4.  The council and the presidium shall be assisted in their

work by  the secretariat  of the  council.  The  presidium  shall

establish the  structure of the staff of the secretariat and also

appoint and dismiss its staff members.

 

Article 17.  Regional Manager and Mayor of the Town under

the Republic's Jurisdiction

 

1.  The regional manager and the mayor of the town under the

Republic's  jurisdiction  shall  be  elected  by  the  respective

councils by  secret ballot  for the term of office of the council

and for  no  longer  than  two  terms  in  succession.  Upon  the

recommendation of  the regional  manager and  the town mayor, the

respective councils  shall appoint deputies to the manager and to

the mayor, and also to the secretary.

2. Any  citizen  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania  shall  be

eligible to  be appointed  to the posts of regional manager, town

mayor, their  respective deputies  and the secretary, provided he

or she  is 25  years of age or older and has command of the state

language.  The regional manager, the town mayor, their respective

deputies and  the secretary  of the  council may not, at the same

time, be  deputies of  the council  that elects or appoints them.

Thy shall  be responsible  and accountable  to the  council  that

elected them.  The issue of their dismissal from their respective

posts before  the expiration  of their  term of  office shall  be

submitted for  consideration at the session of the council at the

request of one-third of deputies.

3. The  regional manager  and the  town  mayor  shall  issue

instructions within  the limits of their powers and control their

implementation.

 

Article 18.  Regional Board and the Board of the Town under

the Republic's Jurisdiction

 

1.   The regional  board and  the town  board are collective

executive bodies that shall be comprised of the regional manager,

the town  mayor, their  deputies, the secretary, and also members

of  the  board  appointed  by  the  respective  councils  on  the

recommendation of the manager or the mayor for the term of office

of the  council.  Members of the board may not, at the same time,

be deputies of the council that elected them.

 

2. Regional  and town  boards of  local  government  of  the

Republic shall  collectively resolve questions if the legislation

of the  Republic, directives of the Government of the Republic of

Lithuania or   resolutions of the appropriate council provide for

same, or  if the  questions are submitted by the regional manager

or the  mayor. With  the aim  of considering  such questions  the

regional manager or the town mayor shall convene a session of the

regional or  town council,  respectively. Minutes  of the session

shall be  taken, while  the adopted  decisions shall be issued in

the form of directives of the manager or the mayor.

If  there  is  a  disagreement  on  the  question  under

consideration   or the  adopted act  between the  manager, or the

mayor and  the board, the dispute shall be settled by the council

of the local government. (Amended 30 May 1990)

3. The  functions of  the board in specific spheres shall be

performed by  its  departments  and  other  divisions  headed  by

executives who  are appointed  and dismissed  from their posts by

the board.

4.   In their work the executive bodies of local governments

shall guide  themselves by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania,

directives  of   the  Government   of  the   Republic,  and  also

resolutions  of   their  respective   councils  and   ensure  the

implementation of the functions of local government.

 

Article 19.  Auditing Committee of the Region and of the

Town under the Republic's Jurisdiction.

 

1.  The council of local government shall elect the auditing

committee. The chairman and deputy chairman of the committee must

be deputies of the council.

 

2.   The auditing  committee shall exercise control over the

implementation of  decisions of  the council  by the manager, the

mayor and the board, audit their financial activity, and also the

financial activity of the secretariat of the Council.

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

Economic Basis of Local Government

 

 

Article 20.  Economic Basis of Government.

 

1.   The economic  basis of local government is comprised of

the property  of  local  government,  objects  of  local  economy

assigned to  the local government, resources of the local budget,

non-budgetary and other resources of the local government.

2.  Enterprises (associations) and organisations functioning

on the territory of the local government that are not assigned to

the local  economy thereof  shall  pay  a  prescribed  amount  of

compulsory budget payments to the local government.

Enterprises  (associations)  and  organisations  having  the

rights of  legal persons  shall in addition also pay to the local

government a part of compulsory budget payments for the dependent

structural units subordinate to them.  The payments shall be made

to the local government on whose territory the units are located.

3.   The rights  of local  government to the land, bodies of

water, forests  and other  natural resources shall be established

by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

 

Article 21.  The Property of Local Government.

 

1.   The property  of local government shall be the property

that belongs  it and  on its  behalf is  owned and  used  by  the

appropriate council  or other legal or natural persons authorised

by it.

A control  office shall  be established  at the council that

shall control  the legality  of the  utilisation of financial and

material resources, the efficiency thereof, and the protection of

the council's  property. The  functioning of  the control  office

shall be regulated by law. (Amended 20 November 1990)

2. Local  government may  have the right of ownership to the

following objects:

social housing fund enterprises and establishments of a town

(settlement), fixed and current assets of enterprises assigned to

the local  government, objects of infrastructure, and the capital

of local government invested in shares and other securities.

3.  Local government shall acquire rights to ownership when:

 

1) objects  of state  property are  turned over to the local

government according to the procedure established by law;

2) new objects of property are produced;

3) contracts  are concluded, and also in other ways provided

by law.

 

4.   Realising its  ownership rights  the Council  of  local

government shall:

1) found  enterprises, institutions,  organisations to which

it can  transfer property  according to the procedure established

by law;

2) lease  the piece  of property  or turn it over for use to

work collectives, public organisations, cooperative    societies,

organisations  of   lease-holders,  associations,   and  also  to

citizens in accordance with the procedure established by law;

3) use the property and dispose of it according to law.

 

5.   Local government  shall   have the right of priority to

acquire according  to the  procedure established  by law:  public

buildings, facilities  and other objects located on its territory

which can be of use to the local economy.

 

Article 22.  The Local Economy.

 

1.  The   local  economy   is  comprised   of   enterprises,

institutions and  organisations with different types of ownership

located on  the territory of local government and catering mainly

to the needs of local enterprises and the population.  Their work

is controlled by the council of the local government according to

procedure defined by law.

2.  As   a  rule,   enterprises  of  industry,  agriculture,

construction, repair,  housing,  transport,  road-building,  land

reclamation   installations,    trade,   communications,   public

catering, environmental  protection and  forestry, establishments

of education,  culture and  cinematography, health  care,  social

welfare and  sporting facilities,  and also  enterprises, offices

and organisations  serving other  purposes as specified in part 1

hereof shall be assigned to the local economy of.

3.  Enterprises, offices and organisations shall be assigned

to the local economy by the Councils of Ministers of the Republic

of  Lithuania,  taking  into  consideration  proposals  of  local

governments.  Enterprises, offices and organisations of the local

economy may  not be  assigned to  the  higher  level  of  control

without the consent of the local government.

 

Article 23.  Financial Resources of Local Government.

 

1.  Financial   resources  of   local  government  shall  be

comprised of the budget, non-budgetary funds and the resources of

the local government.

2. Every  local government  shall annually draft and approve

its budget independently.

3. The  relations between  the state  and local  budgets, as

well as  between the  budgets of  local governments of the higher

and lower  levels shall  be regulated by the laws of the Republic

of Lithuania on  budgeting and taxation.

4. The  budget revenues  of local  governments of  the lower

level shall be formed from sources of revenue assigned by law and

from state  tax and  revenue deductions in accordance with stable

norms established  by councils of the higher level, and also from

subsidies.

5. The  budget revenues  of local  government of  the higher

level shall be formed from sources of revenue assigned by law and

from state  tax and  revenue deduction  in accordance  with fixed

norms established by law, and also from subsidies.

6. Norms  of deductions  to the budgets of local governments

shall  be   established  and   subsidies  shall  be  provided  in

accordance with  the approved  system of  calculation.   In these

cases, the  longer term  deduction norms  still being  valid  the

revenues and expenditures of local budgets  undergo changes owing

to decisions  passed by  the Government of the Republic or by the

executive bodies of local government, the sums of differences are

compensated for.

7. Local  governments of  the higher  and lower  levels  may

accumulate and use non-budgetary resources and funds according to

the procedure  established by  law. Non-budgetary  funds  may  be

formed from voluntary contributions to the budget by enterprises,

organisations  and   citizens,  compulsory   payments   for   the

exploitation of  local natural  resources, for  the employment in

enterprises of persons who are not living on the territory of the

self-government, for  the violation  of environmental  protection

regulations,  for   the  damage   inflicted,  for  administrative

offenses and from other resources.

8.  Local   government  may  raise  bank  credits,  conclude

contract and grant loans, issue shares and hold lotteries.

 

Article 24.  Basic Socioeconomic Rights of Local Government

 

1. Local  government  shall    also  resolve  the  following

issues:

 

1)  work  our  the  basic  trends  of  economic  and  social

development  of   its  territory,  long-term  (five-year  period)

programs and  forecasts,  taking  into  consideration  production

capacities, financial  labour  resources,  social  and  financial

norms;  local  government  shall  have  the  exclusive  right  to

establish priorities of social activity;

2)  coordinate   and  approve   the  projects   of  work  of

enterprises, irrespective  of their  status, with  regard to  the

spheres of  construction, utilisation  of labour force, local raw

materials, land,  water  and  forest,  environmental  protection,

services to  local residents  and other spheres within the limits

of powers of local governments;

3) work  out and  submit proposals on long-term programs for

the development  and distribution  of productive forces, work out

and approve town and settlement development plans, organise their

implementation,  participate   in   the   preparation   and   the

realisation of national programs;

4)  found   and  reorganise  enterprises,  institutions  and

organisations of  the local  economy, regulate the functioning of

the  local   economy,  coordinate  the  issues  of  founding  and

reorganising other enterprises, institutions and organisations;

5) issue  licences to  engage in economic activity, register

enterprises, offices, organisations and associations;

establishes requirements for the construction, extension and

reconstruction of  all objects  located on  the territory  of the

local  government,   for   the   formation   of   landscape   and

architecture, and control their observance;

6) solve  questions related to the planning and construction

of all  objects of  social and industrial infrastructure, and may

directly perform the function of builder;

7) distribute  resources formed  on a  centralised basis for

the enterprises of the local economy, organisations and citizens;

8) allocate  plots of  land, exercise  state management  and

control over  land use, land protection and solve other questions

in accordance with the procedure defined by law;

9) jointly  with other  state bodies  work out and implement

measures for  the rescue  of population  and  protection  of  the

national  economy   in  cases   of  accidents,  catastrophes  and

natural disasters;

10)  define   on  the   territory   of   economic   activity

requirements for  environmental protection  and exploitation  and

control their implementation;

may suspend  economic activity  if the  requirements are not

followed;

11) suspend  or terminate  production and sale of foodstuffs

and  consumer  goods  in  cases  when  sanitation  standards  and

requirements are not observed;

12) advance proposals for the foundation of protected areas,

organise their  protection and  help to  establish rules of their

exploitation;

13) designate  protected areas of local importance, national

monuments or  architecture, nature, history and culture, organise

registration of national monuments and protect them;

14) coordinate  and regulate  on its territory the location,

structure and  activity  of  objects  of  social  infrastructure,

establish  their  exploitation  regulations  and  resolve  issues

related to the provision of citizens with housing;

15) create  and expand establishments of health care, social

welfare,  education,   culture,  physical  education  and  sports

facilities and  other social  establishments  and  organisations,

ensure their continued functioning;

16) regulate the distribution of labour resources, migration

processes, organise  rational employment  of citizens, retraining

and training of workers and employees;

 

17) regulate  within the  limits  of  established  procedure

prices and  tariffs of  services to the population offered by all

the enterprises  located on its territory, of services offered by

the enterprises  of the  local economy to other organisations and

also prices  of goods  produced by  the enterprises  of the local

economy;

18) announce  local voluntary  loans, hold  lotteries, issue

shares;

19) grant reductions of payments to its budget, determine in

accordance with  the Government-approved  system  the  amount  of

payment (compensation)  for the  allocated plots of land, for the

use of  installations of  town and  township  economy  and  other

objects, and  also for  persons living  on the  territory of  the

self-government who  are employed  in enterprises  located on the

territory other local governments;

20) approve  according to  the procedure  established by law

the payroll  fund of  offices and  organisations maintained  with

budget resources;

21)  conclude   contracts  and  cooperation  agreements,  as

necessary, with enterprises, offices,  and organisations assigned

to the  local economy,  other local  governments,  foreign  firms

and local government authorities of foreign countries;

22) work  out and  implement measures  to balance out income

and expenditure of the population;

23) form  and use  currency reserve  in accordance  with the

procedure established by law; and

24)  organise   appropriate  measures   to  guarantee  state

security and  public order,  to protect  property of  natural and

juridical persons,  to  ensure  traffic  management;  direct  the

activity of internal affairs bodies subordinate to it and of fire

brigades.

2.   Socioeconomic rights  outlined herein  are defined  for

local governments of different levels in other laws.

 

Chapter 6

Legal Guarantees of Local Government

 

Article 25.  General Questions of Legal Guarantees of Local

Government.

 

1.   Resolutions of  local government bodies, adopted within

the limits  of their powers, must be observed by all enterprises,

institutions and  organisations on  its territory,  as well as by

officials and citizens.  Refusal to observe the resolutions shall

be punishable under the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

2.   The statutory  rights of  local governments  may not be

violated or curtailed, except in the event of national necessity.

3.   The bodies  of local  government shall  exercise  their

powers independently.  By mutual agreement they may delegate part

of their  statutory rights  (along with  resources necessary  for

their realization)  to local  governments of a different level or

to other bodies.

4.  Functions not established by law may be delegated to the

bodies of local government exclusively on the basis of agreements

between a state body and a local government body.

 

Article 26.  Ensuring the Realisation of the Rights of Local

Government.

 

1.  Higher state bodies, while considering issues related to

the  interests  of  local  governments,  must  inform  the  local

government of  these deliberations.  The  council  of  the  local

government shall  present its proposals that should be considered

by the higher state bodies.

 

 

2.   The  council  of  the  local  government,  taking  into

consideration the  interests of  the citizenry   shall  have  the

right to:

 

1) suspend  the implementation of decisions adopted by legal

persons on  its territory  if they  contradict the  laws  of  the

Republic  of  Lithuania  until  the  issue  is  considered  by  a

competent state body.  If the implementation of decisions adopted

by the  legal person  is suspended unlawfully and this results in

damage, a legal action may be taken against the local government;

2) cancel  the coordination of projects for the construction

of objects  on its  territory or  a decision on the allocation of

land for construction, or prohibit construction if the builder or

the user of land violates the contracts concluded with the bodies

of local government or the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

In the  period between  the  sessions  of  the  council  the

executive body of local government may

Suspend the  implementation of  the abovementioned decisions

and subsequently  submit its decision for approval at the session

of the council;

 

3)  require  or  organise  additional  ecological  or  other

investigations by  experts to  be carried  out on the site of the

objects under construction or functioning objects;

4) enhance  within the  procedure established  by  law,  the

measures of environmental protection implemented on its territory

and impose economic sanctions for their violation.

 

Article 27. Appeals against the Acts of Local Government

 

1. The  legality of  activities of  the executive  bodies of

local government  shall be  supervised by the bodies of procuracy

and also controlled by other authorised state bodies.

Decisions adopted  by the  executive bodies and officials of

local government may be revoked by the appropriate council.

2. Legal  and natural  persons may  in accordance  with  the

procedure established  by law  appeal against  the  decisions  of

executive bodies  and officials of local government to the court,

arbitration or appropriate council;  appeals against the unlawful

decisions of  the council  shall be  lodged with  the council  of

local government of the higher level.

3. The  council of local government of the lower level shall

have the  right to contest at the Supreme Council of the Republic

of Lithuania decisions adopted by the council of local government

of the higher level on issues assigned to the exclusive powers of

local government of the lower level.

4. The council of local government of the higher level shall

have the  right to  suspend the  decisions of the bodies of local

government of  the lower level if they contradict the laws of the

Republic of  Lithuania. In  the event  of disagreement  the final

decision on  the issue  is taken  by the  Supreme Council  of the

Republic of Lithuania.

5. The  Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lithuania is

entitled to  appeal to  the Supreme  Council of  the Republic  of

Lithuania  against   the  decisions   of  the  council  of  local

government of the higher level if they contradict the laws of the

Republic of Lithuania.

In the  cases prescribed   by  the laws  of the  Republic of

Lithuania the  Council of  Ministers of the Republic of Lithuania

may suspend  and appeal  against the  decisions of  the executive

bodies of  local government of the higher level to the council of

the local  government. In  the event  of disagreement,  the final

decision on  the issue  shall be  taken by the Supreme Council of

the Republic of Lithuania.

 

Article 28. Dissolution of the Council of Local Government

 

1. The  council of local government may be dissolved and the

activity of  its executive  bodies  suspended  in  the  following

cases:

 

1) if  the  activity  of  the  bodies  of  local  government

contradicts the Basic Law of the Republic of Lithuania;

2) if  the bodies  of local  government grossly  violate the

laws of  the Republic  of Lithuania  or constitutional  rights of

citizens, disregarding the demands of the authorised state bodies

of the Republic of Lithuania to terminate illegal action.

 

2. The council of local government shall be dissolved by the

motivated decision  of the  Supreme Council  of the  Republic  of

Lithuania adopted  on the  basis of  conclusions presented by the

specially formed committee of deputies of the Supreme Council.

3. Upon  the dissolution of the Council of local government,

the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall adopt  one

of the following decisions:

 

1) to  hold within  three months  extraordinary elections to

the appropriate council, empowering an authorised official of the

Government to perform the governing functions;

2) to  suspend the laws of local government on its territory

and to  introduce administrative  rule for  a period of up to one

year  in   accordance  with  special  laws  of  the  Republic  of

Lithuania;

3) as necessary, administrative rule may be prolonged.

 

4. The council of  local government may be also dissolved if

the minimal  required number  of deputies prescribed by law fails

to convene for the session for three times in succession.

The proposal to dissolve the council of the local government

shall be  submitted to  the Supreme  Council of  the Republic  of

Lithuania by  the Chairman of the Presidium of the Council of the

local government.

In  this  case  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Republic  of

Lithuania shall  adopt a  resolution to hold special elections to

the appropriate council within three months.