Research Projects

Research Organisation Partners

•  University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Spatial Sociology

Abstract

Spatial planning is one of the original tasks of municipalities, which are further defined in the Local Self-Government Act and the Spatial Planning Act. Spatial planning tasks should be carried out by all municipalities, regardless of their size and capacity to carry out these tasks, which can lead to delays in the implementation of spatial planning procedures and the preparation of plans. The project will contribute to the preparation of systemic improvements in the field of spatial planning and the monitoring of the territorial governance capacity of municipalities. The project aims to define indicators for monitoring the capacity of municipalities for spatial planning, including monitoring the competence of staff and the financing of spatial development tasks. A detailed analysis of the scope, type and manner of implementation of the original spatial planning tasks under the responsibility of municipalities and an assessment of the human and financial needs for the implementation of these tasks will be performed.

The project consists of five work packages:

1) Analysis of the governance framework for spatial planning at local level,

2) Analysis of the implementation of the original spatial planning tasks of the municipalities,

3) Preparation of a system to monitor territorial governance capacity,

4) Dissemination and

5) Project management.

The first package will include a review of existing legislation and the tasks of municipalities in the field of spatial planning, an analysis of the existing governance framework to show the current situation in municipalities and a review of the existing systems for monitoring territorial governance capacity in the field of spatial planning. The second work package will build on the results of the first and will aim at collecting data on the implementation of the original tasks and possible related problems. The main methodological approach will be a questionnaire survey targeting all Slovenian municipalities, with additional interviews with municipal representatives. The data collected will be used to assess the performance of the tasks and human resources solutions, and to analyse the financial resources allocated by municipalities to spatial planning. The evaluation will help to identify the human and financial needs to improve the quality of the implementation of the tasks and to provide orientations to strengthen the territorial governance capacity of the municipalities. The form, created for the collection of data, will be tested on a selected number of municipalities, and the possible data sources and other stakeholders (e.g. SURS, relevant ministries) needed to successfully set up the monitoring system will be identified. Dissemination activities will be aimed at promoting the intermediate and final results of the project. At the end of the project, a presentation will be organised where municipalities will be able to get acquainted with the results of the evaluation of the current situation, the proposed indicators and the template. The final report of the project will be a professional publication aimed at the general public in the field of spatial planning and management, and will also provide guidelines for improving the territorial governance capacity of municipalities. The final management work package includes activities aimed at the financial and human resources management of the project, including the preparation of a project implementation report and regular meetings with the ministries.

External link to Researchers Open in new window

• Naja Marot, Pina Klara Petrović Jesenovec, Neja Zalaznik (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty)
• Irena Bačlija Brajnik, Barbara Zagorc (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences)

The phases of the project and their realization

01 ANALYSIS OF THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK FOR SPATIAL PLANNING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

1.1 Overview of existing legislation and municipal tasks in the field of spatial planning

1.2 Analysis of the existing governance framework based on existing sources and studies of local-level governance capacity

1.3 Overview of existing systems for monitoring local-level governance capacity in the field of spatial planning

02 ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OWN RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE FIELD OF SPATIAL PLANNING

2.1 Data collection using a questionnaire survey with municipalities

2.2 Assessment of the implementation of defined tasks and staffing solutions of municipalities

2.3 Assessment of existing financial resources of municipalities for spatial planning

2.4 Identification of staffing and financial needs for high-quality implementation of tasks

2.5 Guidelines for strengthening the governance capacity of municipalities

03 DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE CAPACITY

3.1 Design of indicators and data collection form for monitoring the state

3.2 Testing the form with municipalities

3.3 Identification of possible data sources and relevant stakeholders

3.4 Design of a protocol/process for monitoring the state