Local Councils Are Becoming the True “Voice of the People”

In recent years, a number of measures have been implemented to organise the work of local councils of people’s deputies more effectively, to expand their oversight functions over local executive bodies, and to widely apply information technologies in their activities.
Legal foundations were established to strengthen the oversight activities of local councils. More than ten additional powers were transferred to local councils to broaden their control over the activities of local executive authorities—specifically, accountability was introduced for heads of the prosecutor’s office, justice, internal affairs, finance, tax, ecology and health agencies.
Additionally, organizational, technical and other support was put in place for regional, district, and city councils of people’s deputies. Notably, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 14 December 2020 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Improvement of the Activities of Councils of People’s Deputies” established standing secretariats for the councils.
Article 120 of the updated Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan provides that the councils of people’s deputies are representative bodies of state authority, chaired by a person elected from among its deputies, and that the same person cannot simultaneously serve as head of regional, district or city administration and chairman of a council of people’s deputies.
One may say this provision is a significant constitutional measure to ensure the full independence of local councils from local executive authorities; it facilitates the implementation of the separation of powers at the local level, raises the efficiency of councils’ work, ensures the protection of citizens’ interests in the regions, and strengthens oversight by councils and the public over the activities of regional administrations.
Article 122 of the new Constitution specifies a number of powers of councils of people’s deputies. In particular:

reviewing and adopting relevant local budgets and monitoring their execution;

approving programmes for socio-economic development of territories and social protection of the population;

approving the hokim (regional head) and hearing reports on their activities.
Moreover, on 2 February 2024, by Presidential Decree No. PF-28 “On Measures to Improve the Efficiency of Local State Administration”, 33 functions and powers were transferred to local representative bodies in order to enhance their role in solving vital issues of society and the state.
The tasks and functions assigned to local councils must be enshrined only by legislative acts; interference in their activities by state bodies and organisations is not permitted; it is strictly specified that local executive authorities are responsible for the execution of tasks not assigned to the councils.
Furthermore, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis adopted over 20 decisions aimed at effectively organising the work of local state and representative bodies, and the legal framework regulating the activities of local councils was reinforced.
Over 700 legislative acts concerning the activity of local councils were revised, and more than 300 functions were optimised in the process.
As part of this extensive reform and in light of the renewed Constitution, on 23 June of this year, by Presidential Decree No. PF-98 “On Approval of the Concept for the Development of Representative Bodies of Local State Power in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030”, the Concept for development until 2030 and a “Road Map” were approved, incorporating 53 measures across 7 priority areas.
Also, the following powers were transferred to local councils of people’s deputies:

setting minimum rental rates for the use of state real estate;

approving rules for cemetery maintenance and tariffs for funeral services;

determining and reserving a minimum number of jobs for socially vulnerable individuals who face difficulties in the labour market;

authorising the increase or reduction of speed limits on certain road sections (with appropriate signage).
In addition, the practice was introduced of forming a portion of local budget expenditures based on initiatives of council deputies, as well as organising Youth Groups and Advisory Groups under councils, and instituting the posts of Chairperson of the Council and Deputy Chairperson.
Under the Concept, the procedure includes: preliminary discussion of candidates for deputy hokim in permanent commissions of the council; introduction of the “Council Hour” institution for hearing information on certain social issues; a system allowing citizens to directly monitor council sessions; digitalisation of council activities according to the “convenience–simplicity–security” principle and phased application of AI technologies.
Notably, the “E-Council” electronic platform will enable secure electronic archival storage (blockchain) of council documents; use of standard templates, analytical data, reports and intelligence in the process of drafting decisions; biometric identification (Face ID) of the council chairperson at document signing; and AI-based preparation and legal expertise of decisions.
In conclusion, these reforms serve to enhance the efficiency of oversight and legislative-normative functions of local councils, broaden their opportunities to resolve pressing neighbourhood and “mahalla” issues, ensure active citizen participation in representative bodies, and turn these councils into the true “voice of the people”.

Ravshan Nurmatov,
Responsible Staff Member, Center for the Analysis of Democratic Processes