Vitebsk region's housing and communal services expect reforms

Based on the analysis of the current structure of housing and communal services, conducted jointly with the housing and communal services department of the regional executive committee, the specialists of the CSC concluded that one of the shortcomings of the existing organizational structure is the multi-profile nature of the industry enterprises, the maintenance of non-core assets and production facilities (baths, hotels, consumer services and funeral services complexes, etc.) on their balance sheets, which are unprofitable or low-profit. The funds used for their maintenance could have been directed towards their own modernization. In addition, a large number of organizations, for example, in the territories of Lepel, Tolochin, and Chashniki districts, operate two housing and communal services enterprises, which increases the costs of maintaining the management apparatus and other expenses.

The first proposals have already been sent to the working group. In particular, it is recommended to exclude services not directly related to the industry from the activities of housing and communal services enterprises; to create one regional water utility (instead of the existing four in Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Orsha), which will reduce the cost of water supply and sewerage services; to optimize the number of organizations providing housing and communal services.

The commission will work until May, and inspections of four housing and communal services enterprises are planned. The results obtained will be summarized by the republican commission, which will submit to the head of state for consideration a draft decree on improving the management structure, pricing system, streamlining the formation of the cost of housing and communal services, and increasing the efficiency of housing and communal services activities.

Tatyana Gornova, "Vitebskiye Vesti"