The basis of Finnish democracy is central and local government. These two are of equal importance from the point of view of citizens making use of their democratic rights.
At the beginning of 2010, there are 342 municipalities. Finland’s municipalities are self-governing entities, which, under Finnish law, have the right to decide on their own matters. In fact, the municipalities and local government are the most extensive and important system of self-government in Finland.
Municipalities are responsible for providing their citizens with statutory basic services. The most important of these are social welfare and health, education and culture, the environment, and technical infrastructure.
Local self-government is on the basis of political decision-making and municipalities must adhere to democratic principles.
The municipal council is the supreme decision-making body in a municipality. Its members are elected for a four-year term in local elections that are based on universal suffrage. The council elects members to the municipal board, which is responsible for preparing matters for the council and putting its decisions into effect.
The municipal council also elects members to the municipal committees, which are in charge of providing local public services. The number and responsibilities of the committees vary between municipalities. The most common are the education committee, social welfare and health committee and planning committee.
In short, municipalities are not only key providers of basic services but they are also of utmost importance in participating people to take part in common affairs.
The Local Government Act emphasises the importance of representative democracy and the importance of citizens and service users participation in local affairs.
"The council shall ensure that local citizens and service users have opportunities to participate in and influence their local authority’s operations." (Local Government Act 27 §)
The most important legislation controlling land use and construction in Finland is contained in the Land Use and Building Act. Among other things it aims to guarantee the quality of openly publicised planning decisions and participatory processes.
The basic principles of Finnish local government are transparency and access to information.
Local authorities should provide information for members of the community on current issues in process, or plans affecting them, their progress, decisions reached and their effects.
Citizens should also be advised how to submit questions about local affairs and to how to express their views to those in charge of planning and decisions.
The City of Tampere is a forerunner in developing municipal operational models in Finland. Through renewal, Tampere is better able to meet the increasing challenges in operating environment, such as the changes in service needs and the tightening financial situation.
The operational model of the City of Tampere has three main pillars: 1. development of public participation 2. purchaser-provider model of governance and 3. the model of mayors.
Public participation is thus priorised high in the city.
Development of public participation is the responsibility of the city council, the mayors, and therefore the whole organisation. In the core of public participation in Tampere is the possibility for citizens to take part in the decision making process.
For eService planning the citizens are crucial co-operation partners. Customer feedback is systematically collected and new means of participating and influencing are actively developed.
Citizens may also comment on current issues under preparation using the “Valma” forum available on the Internet. In addition, the mayor and the chair of the city council regularly arrange events for the citizens.
Tampere was the first municipality in Finland to adopt the mayoral model in 2007. The role of political leadership is now stronger. In addition to actual decision-making the preparation of issues is now more democratically managed.
In Tampere, services are produced using a multipleprovider model. This means that external companies and communities provide services alongside the city’s own service provision. The city ensures the availability and quality of services for which it is responsible, regardless of the manner in which they are produced.
For services, the key aims are effectiveness, variety and economy. City citizens are heard as users of services and during the planning of services.
LDU (Local democracy unit) develops and manage citizen participation in Tampere.
LDU is an independent operative unit, which makes its decisions through normal procedures in city hierarchy. It has its own budget which is a part of total budget of the city. LDUs budget is accepted by city council every year as part of a total budget of the city. LDU plans its activities more or less independently.
The development of Valma preparation forum was a part of e-citizen I project . Taking part in this project was a decision made by city mayor. After the decision was made LDU took care of the actual management of the project. Project had its own budget and LDU could independently operate within the limits of this budget.
In Valma project commitment from the highest level was important, as it is in participatory projects in general. After the LDU was formed all knew responsibilities in participation issues.
Decisions were made through normal decision-making procedures in city organization. The use of normal procedures was important, because therefore no new bureaucratic structures were needed.
