ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – June 2014
STRATEGIC PLANS
Under the scope of the Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018, the "Procedures and Principles Regarding Strategic Planning in Public Administrations" regulation mandates that relevant public administrations and local governments prepare their 5-year strategic plans.
This planning is crucial in terms of institutionalization and institutional memory. It ensures that the current situation and objectives are documented. As a result, when leadership changes occur, new managers can become familiar with the institution, ensuring continuity.
The general principles for public institutions and local governments during the strategic planning process are as follows: a) The participation and contributions of those benefiting from the public administration’s services, the employees of the public administration, civil society organizations, relevant public institutions and organizations, and other related parties are ensured. b) The work is carried out under the coordination of the strategy development unit, with the participation and contributions of all units. c) Strategic plans must be prepared directly by the public administration and its own employees. If necessary, external consultancy services can only be provided for methodology, process consultancy, and training services. d) All relevant public administrations work in harmony, cooperation, and coordination with one another, taking into account the requirements of accountability.
When Fırat University prepared its latest strategic plan, it took important steps by gathering the opinions of all stakeholders, ensuring the accurate planning of future goals.
As far as I have followed from the local press, Elazığ Municipality is currently undergoing the same process. This process contains two important steps in terms of exchanging views with institutions. The first step is meeting with the senior administrators of the relevant institution, and the second step involves meetings with the lower units directly related to the municipality.
As is well known by the public, our municipality took significant steps in the field of construction inspection between 2005-2006. The reinforcement and concrete of building constructions were made subject to inspections, and a laboratory was established within the municipality. These steps were crucial because the construction inspection law in Turkey began to be applied nationwide in 2011.
One very important stakeholder played a vital role in this important work of the municipality. This stakeholder had no contract, agreement, or financial interest: The Department of Civil Engineering, Building Science of the Faculty of Engineering at Fırat University. This stakeholder assisted Elazığ Municipality through a "service to Elazığ" spirit, without any material or legal contract.
What kind of help did they provide? In the establishment and operation of the laboratory, informing personnel, and providing technical consultancy for reinforced concrete structures, the academic staff worked tirelessly, day and night, even on weekends. The technical staff in the municipality can testify to this.
Since 2005, the university has seen its third rector, and the municipality its second mayor, but the operational branches in the Civil Engineering Department and the Municipality’s Zoning Directorate remain the same. While the ideas of senior managers are undoubtedly important, it should not be forgotten that the knowledge and practical experience to shape strategy reside within the lower units.
As Elazığ Municipality designs its 5-year strategic plan, and by extension, the strategic plan for our city, I believe it is essential to engage in extensive collaboration with Fırat University’s Department of Civil Engineering, Building Science, especially on topics like zoning, building inspection, urban transformation, earthquakes, and building stock.
I wish success and ease to the strategic planning commission.