Let's protect democratic decision-making!

The technology was utilized earlier at an extraordinary meeting of the city council where some city council members participated via remote conferencing equipment. At the meeting, a proposal was presented which concerned, among other things, authorizing the use of remote conferencing equipment at city meetings and entrusting the city executive council with the powers of the city council until the next regular meeting on April 21.

In light of the current situation, it is important that Reykjavíkurborg responds and puts forward contingency plans for the consequences of the coronavirus. I therefore submitted an amendment proposal from the socialists which involved increasing the number of remote meetings of the city council until April 21 instead of entrusting the city executive council with the responsibilities of the city council.

Only a portion of city council members sit on the city executive council and not all of them have voting rights there. Furthermore, meetings of the city executive council are closed, whereas city council meetings are open so that residents and others can follow what takes place in that forum. The framework of the meetings is therefore very different, and it is important at times like these to ensure that the entire city council can participate in the strategic decision-making that lies ahead.

The amendment proposal from the socialists was unfortunately rejected, but interested parties can read it here and the accompanying explanatory statement. The proposal is very legal in nature and also refers to the bylaws on the administration of Reykjavíkurborg and the rules of procedure of the city council, and the authorizations and conditions that apply there.

Amendment proposal by the city council member of the Socialist Party of Iceland to a proposal on authorizations for deviations from the conditions of municipal laws due to an emergency in a municipality

The City Council agrees to temporarily deviate from the conditions of the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 17 of the Local Government Act, with reference to Announcement No. 230/2020 on the decision of the Minister of Transport and Local Government, pursuant to Article VI of the transitional provisions of the Local Government Act, No. 138/2011. Due to the impact of the coronavirus on society, it is important for the City Council to discuss urgent matters and convene for decision-making. Instead of entrusting the City Executive Council with the same powers as the City Council has, until the next regular City Council meeting on April 21, under the same conditions that apply during the City Council's summer recess according to Article 48 of the bylaws on the administration of Reykjavíkurborg and the rules of procedure of the City Council, it is proposed that the number of remote meetings of the City Council be increased. Only a portion of city council members sit on the City Executive Council, and not all of them have voting rights there. It is proposed that City Council meetings be held weekly until April 21. During this period, it will be permitted to use remote conferencing equipment at meetings of the City Executive Council, professional committees according to Article 63 B of the bylaws on the administration of Reykjavíkurborg and other committees according to Article 64 B of the bylaws, as applicable. The use of remote conferencing equipment shall generally be in accordance with the provisions in the guidelines on the use of remote conferencing equipment at municipal council meetings No. 1140/2013, but the majority of attendees do not need to be at the announced meeting location. In accordance with Article 8 of the guidelines, the minutes of the City Council will continue to be confirmed and reviewed by the President of the City Council and the secretaries.

Explanatory Statement:In light of the current situation in society, it is important that Reykjavíkurborg responds and puts forward contingency plans for the consequences of the coronavirus. Here it is proposed to increase the number of city council meetings over the next month, as there is no scheduled meeting according to the meeting calendar until April 21, 2020. The original proposal presented at the meeting stipulated that the city executive council would handle the tasks of the city council during the period in question. It is worth noting here that the same powers do not apply to the city executive council as to the city council. Firstly, not all city council representatives sit on the city executive council, and secondly, not all of them have voting rights there, unlike in the city council. Furthermore, meetings of the city executive council are closed, whereas city council meetings are open so that residents and others can follow what takes place in that forum. Although the city executive council handles the powers of the city council during the period in question, the framework of the meetings is very different, and it is important at times like these to ensure that the entire city council can participate in the strategic decision-making that lies ahead.

It is understandable that a platform needs to be ensured where it is possible to react quickly to the current situation in society. It is important that extraordinary city council meetings are therefore efficient with a clearly defined agenda on how to respond to the effects and consequences of the coronavirus. It is proposed that the city council office be entrusted with the organization of the meetings and the implementation of technical matters. Changing times like these offer challenging approaches to tasks, but with technology, matters can be resolved as remote conferencing equipment and streaming from a meeting are options without all attendees and meeting staff needing to be in the same location.