The aim is to improve the performance of public tasks of a local government nature in precisely defined areas. The act provides, among others, that the metropolitan association will carry out tasks in the field of development policy, spatial order, public transport, urban mobility, adaptation to climate change, and promotion of the region. In practice, this will allow, among others, for better integration of public transport, more coherent spatial planning and more effective response to environmental challenges.
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The regulations also provide for the possibility for the metropolis to carry out additional tasks – if the statute so provides. This includes: o activities in the field of supporting the labor market and professional activation of residents, development of social services, innovation policy, education, higher education and scientific research, as well as culture and municipal investments.
Before voting on the entire bill, senators adopted all amendments recommended by the joint local government, state administration and infrastructure committees. However, the amendments submitted by PiS senators were rejected, although some of the demands raised by this club were consistent with the amendments adopted by the committee.
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One of the adopted amendments provides for a five-year term of office of the metropolitan association's management board. Another assumes that expenses for the union's administrative activities, including management services, office costs, consulting, legal services and promotion, will not exceed 5%. his budget.
The senators also decided that at least 5 percent the budget is to be allocated for scientific research and development work to implement its tasks or for cooperation with public universities forming the federation of entities of the higher education and science system. At least 40 percent the association's expenses allocated to its own tasks are intended to finance tasks carried out in communes that do not have the status of a city with poviat rights.
However, senators rejected the amendments proposed by the PiS club, which included, among others: that the metropolis could only include communes and poviats located in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, as well as narrowing down the list of tasks of the metropolis.
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During the debate on the bill, Senator Anna Bogucka (PiS) argued that the union should deal with, among others, communication, spatial planning, municipal services and supporting higher education and science, but should not take over tasks related to, for example, primary schools, education, culture and heritage protection, which – in its opinion – belong to local governments.
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Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Tomasz Szymański, in turn, pointed out that the act is the result of a grass-roots initiative of local governments. — The Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area Association has been waiting for this since 2011, he said. He emphasized that the metropolitan area is to be based on three leading cities: Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot, but it will be co-created by a total of 61 local government units, “starting with small communes with a population of several thousand.”
Szymański noted that the act means “measurable benefits, real financial resources reaching PLN 900 million in the first 3 years of financing.” He added that the Ministry of Finance agreed to this solution, despite the situation of excessive deficit.
The deputy minister also emphasized that one of the basic goals of the act is the integration of public transport. As he said, currently a person who wants to use public transport in Pomerania is forced to use the services of several operators and carriers.
60 senators voted for the adoption of the entire act, 29 were against. As the senators accepted the amendments, the act will return to the Sejm.
The Act also amends the Act of March 2017 on the metropolitan association in the Silesian Voivodeship and the provisions of selected sectoral acts in order to ensure the functioning of the Silesian and Pomeranian metropolitan association.
Representatives of local governments belonging to the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area have been trying to establish a formal metropolis in Pomerania for years. OMGGS currently consists of 61 cities, communes and counties of the province. Pomeranian Voivodeship, where approximately 1.5 million people live.
Local government officials emphasize that the establishment of a metropolis is to be an opportunity not only for the largest cities, but also for smaller towns and rural communes. In their opinion, the act will allow for more effective acquisition and use of funds for the development of Pomerania. The act provides for stable financing of the metropolis, which could ultimately amount to approximately PLN 500 million annually.
According to local government officials, additional funds for Pomerania will allow, among other things, the purchase of buses, trams, trolleybuses and trains, as well as the creation of new connections and coordination of the construction of priority roads for the metropolis. Investments in transport are to be followed by improved access to health services, schools, universities, cultural institutions and jobs.
