Chairman of the Vitebsk Region's Deputy Corps Vladimir Terentyev: "Our task is to work proactively"

This was the leitmotif of the report presented by its Chairman, Vladimir Terentyev, at the session of the Regional Council of Deputies on July 25. A comprehensive discussion was held on the work of the deputy corps and the state of affairs in the region for the second half of 2016 and the first half of 2017.

A number of socio-economic development forecast indicators are being met in the Vitebsk region. 66% of the regional budget is allocated to the social sphere. In the first half of 2017, 137.8 thousand square meters of housing were commissioned in the region, or 54.9% of the annual target set by the Council of Ministers. All target indicators in the social services system and the main ones under the State Program "People's Health and Demographic Security" have been met. The provision of places in preschool institutions for children has reached 97.5% (the republican standard is 85%). Positive shifts have emerged in the housing and communal services system.

The deputy corps plays a significant role in meeting the forecast indicators. Its efforts are focused on the priority of state policy – improving the quality of life of the population. Among the heads of stably operating enterprises are deputies of the Regional Council: Mikhail Rog (RUEP "Vitebskhlebprom"), Elena Cherepnina (OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry"), Anatoly Sivko (RUEP "Begomlsky Zavod "Vetraz"), Viktor Bondarenko (OJSC "Miorsky Meat Processing Plant"), Alexander Firsin (OJSC "Agrokombinat "Yubileiny" of Orsha District), Vladimir Nesterenko (RUETP "Orshansky Lnokombinat"), Nikolai Ilyushonok (Polotsk RUEP "Nasledie F. Skoriny"), and others.

Based on the results of the first half of the year, 572.4 million rubles were received into the local budget, with payments increasing by 6.3% compared to 2016. The work of the Verkhnedvinsk, Vitebsk, Dubrovno, Miory, Tolochin District Councils of Deputies and the Novopolotsk City Council of Deputies in fulfilling budget revenue parts and attracting additional revenues was positively assessed. This work is not sufficiently developed in Beshenkovichi, Dokshitsy, Postavy, Senno districts and Vitebsk.

The experience of the Novopolotsk City Council of Deputies in optimizing the education system, the Vitebsk District Council in replenishing the budget through the sale of land plots, Braslavsky in landscaping, and Liozno in developing ties with Russian regions deserves attention.

As the Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev ensured compliance in the Vitebsk region with the Law on Local Government and Self-Government, and other legal acts, and as a deputy, he carried out specific work in the Novoklin electoral district No. 6. Vladimir Vladimirovich is the chairman of the regional organization of the public association "Belaya Rus". He headed the regional organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the 5th All-Belarusian People's Assembly, republican and regional subbotniks, the 25th "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival, and a number of international festivals and holidays. He is one of the three representatives of Belarus in the Bureau of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of the Eastern Partnership countries. He is a member of the Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies under the Council of the Republic. He participated in the work of the 3rd and 4th Forums of Regions of Belarus and Russia. 22 Agreements have been concluded with the administrations of regions of five districts of the Russian Federation. 95 interregional agreements and contracts in various fields of cooperation with 74 city and district municipalities and councils of deputies of the Russian Federation have been signed by the districts and cities of the Vitebsk region.

In 2018, elections to local councils of deputies will be held. This will be a difficult exam for the people's elected representatives. It is necessary to improve the interaction of local councils of deputies, executive committees, bodies of territorial public self-government, and organizational and mass work in labor collectives and at the place of residence. Among the tasks are reducing migration and retaining young specialists in rural areas, stimulating entrepreneurship and the development of personal subsidiary plots of citizens, strengthening public safety, discipline and law and order, and forming a habit of a healthy lifestyle among the population.

There is only one conclusion: local self-government bodies, as before, must be a reliable support for the executive branch. The degree of trust and support from residents for the work of local authorities and state policy as a whole will depend on competent management decisions and attentive attitude towards people.

Galina Shpakovskaya. Photo by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".