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Formal rules define urban governance, yet in democratic systems like the United States, institutions governing public input shape decision-making. Governance literature needs more breadth on how civic engagement varies across types of nature and its implications for urban social-ecological systems. We analyzed five cities' ordinances within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan region, identifying nature-based rules and civic engagement mechanisms. We found ten engagement mechanisms across six nature types, primarily discussed within zoning ordinances—farm animals being the exception. Public hearings were the most frequently mentioned engagement mechanism, yet they have documented biases toward elite perspectives. Despite codification of engagement opportunities, it remains unclear whether utilized mechanisms support substantive input and influence into urban nature governance. Our study not only lays groundwork for research on how to address the inequitable distribution of nature-related benefits and burdens felt by some urban communities, but also inspires further exploration into this crucial area of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for infants and protects infants and mothers from a range of adverse health outcomes during their lifespan. In Denmark, while the breastfeeding initiation rate is high, only 14% of mothers meet the World Health Organization's recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding at six months. Furthermore, a notable social inequity exists among those who achieve this recommendation. Knowledge of effective interventions to reduce breastfeeding inequity is limited. A previous hospital-based intervention succeeded in increasing breastfeeding duration. However, most breastfeeding support is provided in Danish municipalities by health visitors. This called for adapting the intervention to the health visiting program and developing an intensified intervention addressing the social inequity in breastfeeding. This article describes the adaptation and development process of a municipality-based intervention. Methods: During a 15-month period in 2020–21, the municipal intervention was iteratively developed using a three-stage framework for developing complex health interventions described by Hawkins et al. The three stages were 1) need assessment and stakeholder consultation, 2) co-production and 3) prototyping. The process was inspired by O'Cathain et al.'s principles for a user-centred, co-created and theory- and evidence-based approach, involving parents and health visitors. Results: In stage 1, we identified the needs and priorities of the target groups of the intervention. In stage 2, the intervention was developed through action research design and inspired by Duus' 'learning cycles' as the method to enhance motivation and ownership and to strengthen the implementation process by creating a joint room for learning and reflection with health visitors and developers. In stage 3, the intervention was tested for feasibility and usefulness during a 2.5-month period accompanied by monthly dialogue meetings with health visitors and developers. In this period, the intervention was refined based on the gathered experiences and was subsequently prepared for evaluation. Conclusion: The description of the development of this complex intervention, aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration and reducing inequity, offers breastfeeding practitioners and researchers a transparent foundation for continuously improving breastfeeding support and a methodology for complex intervention development. Trial registration: Registered at Clinical Trials NCT05311631. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local government is distinguished from other spheres of government based on its unique institutional characteristics, the local nature of its governmental functions, and the territorial delineation of its local jurisdiction. Despite being localised, local governments often fail to meet the specific needs of their residents. The implication is that they are not authentic local governments. This article examines two aspects that have an impact on the authenticity of a local government: the necessary conditions (antecedents) for and the consequences of an authentic local government. These aspects are considered through a case study of Orania as a non-typical instance of a South African local government. A conceptual framework and a social ontology of care are used as theoretical lenses to analyse and understand the antecedents and consequences of a local government. In the preceding article, it was reported that the case of Orania does indeed align with the characteristics associated with the concept of "local government". The antecedents of local government have been shown to be authorisation, residents, natural and physical location, cooperative governments, and capabilities. It appears that Orania did not originate due to authorising measures such as the Constitution and subsequent legislation. Instead, it came about because of a cultural community's aspirations and the subsequent acquisition of a piece of land while obtaining legal authorisation at a later stage by means of an order of the High Court. The residents of Orania do not seem to be accidental inhabitants; but are residents based on their alignment with Orania's founding principles. The unique physical location of Orania was deliberately chosen and plays a crucial role in the provision of energy, water, and other infrastructure-related services by the Orania Town Council and administration. The Town Council and its administration appear to have sufficient funds, competent and ethical council members and officials to carry out its functions and create a home for its community. Regarding the consequences of local government, the Orania community seems to experience a good quality of life while actively engaging in various community organisations, participating in the democratic election of an accountable Orania Representative Council (OVR) and Town Council, receiving sustainable municipal services, and witnessing social and economic development. Additionally, they enjoy a safe and healthy environment. An authentic local government is thus one that is integrally connected to its local community and the surrounding world. It continually grapples with present challenges and genuinely cares for its community and the world it inhabits. Orania, therefore, appears to embody the characteristics of a local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has been conducted to grasp aspects of good and bad local governance. A central question that remains unanswered is: What constitutes "local government" and how can the reality to which this concept refers be understood and recognised? Recently, a conceptual framework was developed by identifying recognisable characteristics of this concept's reference. The assumption is that local governments in South Africa and other countries will be recognised based on these characteristics. Alongside this, a social ontology of care for "local government" was established. However, within the South African context, a potentially atypical example of local government is found, namely Orania, an existing town situated within the geographical area of the Thembelihle Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province. Orania is not a municipality in terms of the South African constitution and legal framework. The question thus arises whether Orania can indeed be considered a "local government". In response to this query, this article provides a description of Orania using the chosen conceptual framework and social ontology of care as part of a case study design. The analysis and ontological description of Orania, by means of the conceptual framework, reveal that the phenomenon of Orania does indeed possess a territorial jurisdictional sphere (the Orania Overlay Zone), a democratically elected representative council (the OVR), and a Town Council and its administration that performs a range of local functions and responsibilities. While the territory of a municipality is generally determined by authorising measures or decisions by other jurisdictions (such as province, state, and national government), the territorial area known as the Orania Overlay Zone results from the purchase and cultivation of land by members of a homogeneous cultural community. Therefore, the territory is not only a demarcation of jurisdiction, but the place to which this community is connected. The institutional aspect of local government is likely a universal feature. The nature and scope of the institutional structure of local governments are often also the result of standardised external authorising measures or decisions by other jurisdictions. Consequently, the structures may not necessarily resonate with the needs and resources of the sometimes diverse society that constitutes the inhabitants of such an area. In the case of Orania, the institutional structure of local government (the OVR and the Town Council) is directly determined by the community, as represented by various land entities, based on the community's specific needs and available resources. The performance of a limited range of local functions can also be considered a universal feature of local government. In this particular case, the functions of the relevant local government are determined by its decision-making bodies, such as the Town Council, in consultation with the community as represented by the various land entities. Consequently, typical local government functions are performed according to the community's needs and available resources. Non-typical local government functions, such as residence rights, are performed within the general scope of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and other national legislation. The analysis confirmed that Orania meets the characteristics consistent with the concept of "local government" as outlined in the conceptual framework. Additionally, viewing Orania through the theoretical lens of social ontology of care highlights that it is a human construct, making objective observation and description challenging. Orania is a network of interconnected individuals and social institutions situated within overlapping human, spiritual, natural, territorial, and political worlds. The authenticity of this existence lies in its concern for the affairs of the world in which it is situated and the conscientiousness with which it carries out its functions in conjunction with others. The case study shows that an authentic local government is one that forms an integral part of its local community and surrounding worlds, continually experiencing discomfort (anxiety) with the present, and responding to that anxiety with care, concern, and nurturing for society and its things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Compared to the prevailing sustainability strategies of efficiency and consistency, sufficiency is poorly represented both in scientific literature and in political debate but has increasingly gained attention in recent years. However, the discussion lacks a uniform understanding on sufficiency policy and how to conceptualize it. Furthermore, the sufficiency scholarship neglects the role of municipalities in realizing sufficiency policies. This article, thus, examines three questions: how is sufficiency policy understood in the literature? How can sufficiency policy be conceptualized? And what does sufficiency policy mean at the municipal level? In the course of a systematic literature review, we determine a sample of 111 publications on sufficiency policy and identify an ecological, social, and action-oriented dimension of sufficiency understanding. After discussing sufficiency as policy, we synthesize our findings with a definition and conceptual framework of sufficiency policy. Last, we apply the framework at the municipal level and compile a total of 198 municipal sufficiency policy measures. We find that municipalities have numerous levers to pursue sufficiency policy, both in terms of instruments and sectors. The article presents—to our knowledge—the first systematic literature review on sufficiency policy. It advances our understanding of sufficiency as policy in general and at municipal level in particular. The conceptual framework offers a departure point for further empirical research on (municipal) sufficiency policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to examine cross-sectoral collaborations of a Danish emergency department (ED) and two municipal treatment centres in the uptake area regarding patients with alcohol problems. Methods: The study was a qualitative exploratory study. We conducted individual interviews with ED nurses and secretaries (n = 21) and group interviews (n = 2) in municipal alcohol treatment centres with three and four participants, respectively. Interviews were analysed, first with qualitative content analysis, then by applying the analytical concept "boundary object". Results: Three themes emerged: (1) Responsibilities in practice; (2) Professional contrasts; and (3) The social nurse in a unique position. Themes illuminated a low degree of collaboration characterising the intersectoral work. Blurred responsibilities, challenged communication and acute versus long-term focus were some of the factors not supporting cross-sector collaborations. However, the function of the social nurse was highly appreciated in both sectors and plays a central role. Nonetheless, implicit limitations of this function entail that not all patients with alcohol problems are referred and handled within an ED setting. Conclusions: Overall, we found a lack of collaborative work between healthcare professionals in ED and municipalities for patients with alcohol problems. However, the "social nurse" function was greatly valued in both sectors due to a mediating role, since healthcare professionals in both sectors experienced lack of organisational structures supporting collaborative network, perceived temporal barriers, limited knowledge exchange and differences in approaches to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the difficulties in providing bulk water services in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality, North West Province, South Africa. Topics include operational inefficiencies, the need for strategic planning and dynamic master planning, and the exacerbation of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wheat and barley yields in Japan are considerably lower than those in the UK, even where similar Climate Zones (CZs) of relatively cold and humid nature are shared. In order to understand this difference, it is first necessary to find out if any common climate–yield relationship exists between the two countries. The Climate Zonation Scheme (CZS) developed in the Global Yield Gap Atlas (GYGA) was used to analyse actual yield (Ya) with three climatic factors of the GYGA-CZS, i.e., growing degree days (GDD), aridity index (AI) and temperature seasonality (TS). A significant relationship was found between AI scores and Ya values across the two countries. Ya values decreased with an increase in AI scores; in other words, lower yields are associated with higher AI scores. In addition, the degree of yield reduction with the rise in AI scores was greater in Japan than in the UK. The present study also proposed a novel method to link CZs of the GYGA-CZS to regional classification units, especially for countries where statistical crop yield data are available only at a coarse scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for infants and protects infants and mothers from a range of adverse health outcomes during their lifespan. In Denmark, while the breastfeeding initiation rate is high, only 14% of mothers meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding at six months. Furthermore, a notable social inequity exists among those who achieve this recommendation. Knowledge of effective interventions to reduce breastfeeding inequity is limited. A previous hospital-based intervention succeeded in increasing breastfeeding duration. However, most breastfeeding support is provided in Danish municipalities by health visitors. This called for adapting the intervention to the health visiting program and developing an intensified intervention addressing the social inequity in breastfeeding. This article describes the adaptation and development process of a municipality-based intervention. Methods During a 15-month period in 2020–21, the municipal intervention was iteratively developed using a three-stage framework for developing complex health interventions described by Hawkins et al. The three stages were 1) need assessment and stakeholder consultation, 2) co-production and 3) prototyping. The process was inspired by O’Cathain et al.’s principles for a user-centred, co-created and theory- and evidence-based approach, involving parents and health visitors. Results In stage 1, we identified the needs and priorities of the target groups of the intervention. In stage 2, the intervention was developed through action research design and inspired by Duus’ ‘learning cycles’ as the method to enhance motivation and ownership and to strengthen the implementation process by creating a joint room for learning and reflection with health visitors and developers. In stage 3, the intervention was tested for feasibility and usefulness during a 2.5-month period accompanied by monthly dialogue meetings with health visitors and developers. In this period, the intervention was refined based on the gathered experiences and was subsequently prepared for evaluation. Conclusion The description of the development of this complex intervention, aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration and reducing inequity, offers breastfeeding practitioners and researchers a transparent foundation for continuously improving breastfeeding support and a methodology for complex intervention development. Trial registration Registered at Clinical Trials NCT05311631.

Aim: The ever-increasing population of cities has created many problems for city management. Solving these problems has become a big challenge for urban management. Scientific and research centers and international organizations have introduced the approach of "good urban governance" as the most effective, least costly, and most sustainable method of urban management. Urban governance is a process formed based on the interaction between the official organizations and institutions of the city administration on the one hand, and non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations on the other. This article aims to analyze the feasibility of good governance in the urban management of Maku City by examining the indicators of good urban governance.Material & Method: The research method is descriptive-analytical and is of a functional type. The statistical population of this study includes two groups of citizens and experts (municipality and city council). Statistical tests using mean comparison (T-test and ANOVA) were used to analyze the data collected from the questionnaire. Finding: The findings of this study are significant. From the citizens' viewpoint, all the indicators of good urban governance are at a low level. However, experts believe that only the participation index is low. Furthermore, all neighborhoods of Maku city are at a low level in terms of good urban governance, with significant differences observed in three indicators: rule of law, justice index, and strategic insight index. In summary, this study's results underscore the urgent need to improve the realization of good urban governance in Maku city.Innovation: This research stands out from previous studies as it comprehensively examines eight indicators of good urban governance, both from the perspective of citizens and experts. The findings of this unique approach can be instrumental in various planning initiatives, particularly those that prioritize the decentralization of the urban management process.

The rapid population growth of Tehran and the increasing demand for land to meet the needs of residents, activities, and urban services have led to the expansion of the city into its surrounding areas, resulting in significant and rapid changes in land use. This paper aims to examine these changes and their future implications in district 22 of Tehran Municipality. The research utilizes a descriptive-analytical approach and relies on data obtained from documentary and library sources. The process of changes and the current situation were qualitatively and descriptively analyzed. To identify the factors driving future changes, a structural-interpretive model was implemented using Mic-Mac software. A comprehensive list of all land uses and activities (64 in total) was compiled. Subsequently, through the Delphi method involving the participation of 8 experts, 25 potential land uses were identified. The analysis was conducted by using the rounded figures closest to the average numbers provided by the experts. The findings revealed that prior to the establishment of the district in 1972, large -scale urban land uses such as sports facilities, educational and research institutions, recreational areas, military installations, urban complexes, and residential areas were developed in agricultural and vacant lands on the outskirts of the district. Subsequently, residential settlements, parks, green spaces, recreational areas, military installations, research and educational facilities, and roads were established in this area. The analysis of the driving forces also indicated that, among the 25 potential land uses, forestry, eco-tourism, the construction of villas and secondary residences, parks, shopping malls, military zones, stadiums and sports facilities, and roads and transportation terminals will be the primary catalysts for changes in the structural and physical aspects of the studied outskirts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the organizational and legal prerequisites and the process of reorganization of the administrative and territorial system and the formation of local self-government on the territory of Subcarpathian Rus (Transcarpathia) during the first half of the 20s of the 20th century. It was established that the system of administrative and territorial organization of the region was formed gradually, undergoing minor changes at the initial stage. At this stage, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in the former Hungarian lands (Piedkarpattia) not only adopted the existing Hungarian administrative system to a certain extent, but also partially adapted it to its needs. It has been analyzed that instead of Czechoslovak committees under Law No. 126/1920, the old Hungarian committee administration, modified by Law No. 210/1920 and Government Decree No. 476/1920, remained in force in Subcarpathian Rus. It was established that after the recognition of the invalidity of the Committee Law No. 126/1920 and the unsuccessful attempt to introduce Government Decree No. 352/1920 in Subcarpathian Rus, the government of the Czech Republic began to be interested in the centralization of power in the region. It is noted that the resolution of the Presidium of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Czechoslovakia No. 22093 dated August 26, 1921 approved a new administrative-territorial system with a division into three counties and 19 districts. The cities of Uzhhorod and Mukachevo were declared settlements with a regulated magistrate. It is proven that the limitation of local self-government was based on government decree No. 171/1923, the principle norm of which was the appointment of new district notaries, who became civil servants supervising self-government. Corresponding conclusions were made regarding the support by the state authorities of the Czechoslovak Republic of the principle of vertical subordination of self-government bodies, especially city ones, which even illusory did not correspond to the principles of the autonomous organization of the region stipulated by the Saint-Germain Peace Treaty [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era marked by rapid technological progress, the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly evident across various sectors, including local governments. These governmental bodies are progressively leveraging AI technologies to enhance service delivery to their communities, ranging from simple task automation to more complex engineering endeavours. As more local governments adopt AI, it is imperative to understand the functions, implications, and consequences of these advanced technologies. Despite the growing importance of this domain, a significant gap persists within the scholarly discourse. This study aims to bridge this void by exploring the applications of AI technologies within the context of local government service provision. Through this inquiry, it seeks to generate best practice lessons for local government and smart city initiatives. By conducting a comprehensive review of grey literature, we analysed 262 real-world AI implementations across 170 local governments worldwide. The findings underscore several key points: (a) there has been a consistent upward trajectory in the adoption of AI by local governments over the last decade; (b) local governments from China, the US, and the UK are at the forefront of AI adoption; (c) among local government AI technologies, natural language processing and robotic process automation emerge as the most prevalent ones; (d) local governments primarily deploy AI across 28 distinct services; and (e) information management, back-office work, and transportation and traffic management are leading domains in terms of AI adoption. This study enriches the existing body of knowledge by providing an overview of current AI applications within the sphere of local governance. It offers valuable insights for local government and smart city policymakers and decision-makers considering the adoption, expansion, or refinement of AI technologies in urban service provision. Additionally, it highlights the importance of using these insights to guide the successful integration and optimisation of AI in future local government and smart city projects, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of communities.

AbstractIn the last two decades, the concept of organizational citizenship behavior has been widely discussed due to its importance in organizational performance, while less research has examined the external factors affecting it, so this study investigates the impact of citizenship rights awareness on organizational citizenship behaviors as an extra-organizational component through considering the employees working at the municipalities of seven biggest cities of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran, as a statistical population. This research introduces media literacy as one of the most influential variables on the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of people in the present time as a moderating variable for the first time in the field of management. Using 3 questionnaires with confirmed validity and reliability, as well as using Pearson correlation coefficient, regression tests, and SEM, the hypotheses of this research were examined and it was concluded that not only awareness of citizenship rights can cause increasing organizational citizenship behaviors in municipality employees, but also media literacy is a significant modifier in this regard. Therefore, managers of organizations should be aware that it is time to pay more attention to extra-organizational factors (beyond the factors of individual behaviors, organizational behaviors and organizational structures) to increase organizational citizenship behaviors while the effective role of media literacy on perception and cognition of employees should not be neglected.IntroductionCitizenship reflects the links between the individual and society in the form of rights, obligations and responsibilities and provides a framework for the interaction of individuals, groups and institutions (Kaldi and Purdenhad, 2012). Therefore, people's awareness of their rights not only leads to the establishment and consolidation of social security and welfare, but also this awareness can have positive effects on society and also on the groups in which the individual is a member, such as organizations (Jung, 2020). In recent years, attention to the effects of citizenship rights and awareness on social and organizational behaviors has expanded, although there are still few studies to examine the effects of variables such as: awareness of citizenship rights, perceived citizenship rights, and feelings and attitudes toward it. Organizational behavior variables are addressed. Therefore, this study aims to answer the question of whether employees' greater awareness of their citizenship rights leads to more organizational citizenship behaviors?Theoretical FrameworkResearchers consider citizenship to include a set of individual and social rights and duties that express the need for human beings to coexist peacefully with others and to be aware of their rights and duties in social relations (Sharafi and Taherpour, 2016).The concept of organizational citizenship behavior is one of the concepts related to management motivational theories, which was first proposed in 1983 and has been one of the most controversial topics of organizational behavior and means voluntary and conscious behavior that is useful for the organization but It has not been directly and explicitly identified by organizational reward systems, although it has a strong impact on organizational effectiveness (Shim and Firman, 2015; Ranaei et al., 2013).Media literacy pays attention to the audience's perception of how the media work and the ways of meaning-making in them and tries to make this analysis a habit for the audience (Afshani, Mazidi and Sadri, 2018).MethodologyThis research is applied in terms of purpose, which is done quantitatively and using descriptive data collection, and is of the correlation type, which means that it tries to discover the relationships between variables using the correlation coefficient. The statistical population of the study consists of official and unofficial employees of the municipalities of 7 major cities of Sistan and Baluchestan province (Zahedan, Zabol, Iranshahr, Chabahar, Saravan, Khash, Konarak), which are a total of 1750 people. The sample size was selected using Morgan table of 316 people and the type of random sampling was determined. The response rate to the questionnaire was 81%. To collect information in this research, a combination of three questionnaires has been used.In order to confirm the significance of the correlation between the research variables, Pearson correlation analysis was performed and also to measure the causal relationships between variables in the form of multivariate analysis, SEM method in AMOS software was used.DiscussionThis study showed that the set of organizational behaviors is also directly affected by awareness of organizational citizenship behaviors. Meanwhile, media literacy plays a key role in promoting citizenship rights on the one hand and promoting voluntary social activities on the other. Media literacy leads a person to adhere to moral principles and to be present in the organization with a higher work conscience and more than self-sacrifice and openness.

This review is an analytical presentation of the content of scientific articles and monographs published in the last few years and devoted to the problems of socio-economic development of the territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). Since the legal recognition of the AZRF, many empirical studies have been devoted to the issues of its socio-economic development. However, the literature review in them is limited to the selected narrow subject of research. This circumstance creates an urgent need for a comprehensive analysis of currently relevant directions in the study of socio-economic processes in the AZRF. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the diversity of vectors of scientific search in contemporary Russian studies of social and economic processes in the Arctic. The limitation of the study is the significant growth of publications on the topics of interest to us, caused by the variety of specific issues covered in the latest Arctic research. Therefore, we have selected only a few representative works that reflect the multi-vector nature of Arctic research in contemporary Russia. As a result of analyzing the works, we have found that Arctic research is characterized by both thematic and geographical diversity. The authors conditionally divide contemporary Arctic studies in Russia into three directions: interregional comparative studies within the boundaries of the entire AZRF, regional case studies, and local studies (at the level of municipalities). It is important to note that within the framework of the last two directions of research the key contribution to the multiplication of empirical material and its conceptual understanding is primarily made by scientists from regional scientific and university centers. Another peculiarity of Russian Arctic research is the shift of interest towards the study of the urban environment, industrial centers, and urbanism, while economists and sociologists pay insufficient attention to the study of the rural periphery. The observed deficit of local studies of social and economic processes in the rural Arctic in the future may lead to the rapid development of this direction in contemporary Russian science.

The purpose of this article is to present the results of a qualitative study conducted using a questionnaire in February 2023, which aimed to reveal the peculiarities of the legal status of the mayors of Lithuanian municipalities in the presence of two different municipal structure models (the model that was applied from March 2015 to April 1, 2023, and the model that has been applied since April 1, 2023). The idea of conducting this research arose just a few weeks before the regular municipal council and mayoral elections took place on March 5, 2023, a few months before the new Local Self-Government Law came into force on April 1, 2023. This law introduced a new municipal structure model and changed the dominant role of the mayor in Lithuanian municipalities. This research is unique because of the target group chosen for it – only the ten mayors of Lithuanian municipalities who have served in these positions for four or more terms (20 or more years) were consulted. The results of the research show that: the mayors have a good understanding of the specifics of the new municipal structure applied since April 1, 2023; and the mayors are essentially prepared to take on a new role (the role of the municipal executive institution), replacing their previous role (the role of the chairman of the municipal council). However, the fact that the mayor of the municipality, who continues to be the organizer of municipal council meetings (the other role of the mayor of a Lithuanian municipality), will not have the right to vote when the municipal council makes decisions at its meeting is cause for concern. Mayors are also worried about the different interpretations regarding the possibility of transferring part of their powers to vice mayors (political appointees). The results of this research could be useful for improving the legal regulation of the powers of municipal institutions (both municipal councils and municipal mayors, in terms of the scope, composition, transfer and delegation of powers to other municipal entities) and the relations between these institutions.

Objectives The aim of the work is to discuss selected issues related to administrative-legal activities concerning the naming of streets and squares in the practice of functioning of basic units of local government. The paper discusses basic concepts both in terms of statutory provisions, the achievements of doctrine, and case law. Legal foundations for naming streets and squares are discussed, along with the forms of procedures used in this regard. Material and methods The publication was based on the content of legal acts, scientific publications, and theses of administrative judiciary decisions. The predominantly utilized method was legal-comparative analysis. Results As a result of the conducted inquiry, it was determined that the material subject to the study appears heterogeneous, filled with vague concepts. The procedures used by municipalities for naming streets and squares are not uniform and are often organized in various ways. Conclusions The collected results allow us to conclude that there is a need for comprehensive and clear regulation of the issue by the legislator in the future. Leaving this matter with a high degree of organizational and legal freedom, especially with the increasing legal awareness and social assertiveness, will lead to further problems in the future. The proposed changes should mainly involve establishing statutory delegation to the municipal council for naming streets and squares, not only in constitutional provisions but also in substantive law. Additionally, the municipal council should be required by the executive body of the basic unit of local government to adopt principles and procedures for naming streets and squares, taking into account the significant social pluralism in this area.

Background Despite beneficial progress in policies, awareness and advocacy, accessibility gaps exist in public buildings in India. Challenges achieving full inclusivity still exist, due to a lack of clear guidance for implementing accessible solutions. Retrofitting older buildings, particularly in developing tier II cities is a major challenge. The authors of this paper aimed to address this issue using a four-round Delphi method to generate a Justice-Centered Best Practices (JCBPs) for accessibility provisions for individuals with mobility disabilities. Methods Conducted in Udupi, the study involved experts including administrators, policy implementers, auditors, advocates, healthcare professionals, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. In the first round, a 117-item list was generated through triangulation of three methods. In subsequent rounds, experts rated each item using a 5-point Likert scale on feasibility, affordability and priority. Responses were considered valid if the agreement reached ≥80% on the total score. The prioritised list of JCBPs was finalised at a consensus meeting. Results Out of forty-eight experts who began the study, 16 participated in the final meeting. The Wilcoxon signed rank test (p value>0.05) of expert ranking indicated that the scoring of items remained consistent between the two rounds. A machine learning decision tree analysis identified items securing ≥ 80% agreement as the most reliable decision with an accuracy=71.43%. The McNemar’s Test p value=0.79 confirmed consistency of expert scoring on the items with high agreement rates. Conclusion Finally, 33 built and non-built environment items scored highest rank. Stakeholder engagement, use of low-cost technology solutions, coordination between public administrations, funding, good governance practice, awareness, and advocacy were few of the solutions that can help ensure accessibility is in place for individuals with mobility disabilities. The study methodology and findings create a robust foundation for evidence-based JCBPs for accessibility provisions for individuals with mobility disabilities.

In the current scenario ruled by governance, the digital transformation of education is woven through the participation of multiple actors. Recent academic literature deals with the study of state, regional or private policies. However, municipal policies are also an element of great interest for illustrating micro-political processes, making it possible to develop situated work. Based on this premise, this paper studies the case of a municipality in the province of València that for the last decade has been implementing an initiative to provide digital devices to 5th grade students in its four schools. Using a qualitative approach, a field study is carried out by means of interviews with teachers and classroom observations, in which this initiative is investigated, delving into the difficulties and challenges it entails. The main results show that local councils are key bodies in promoting the digitalisation of schools, and that municipal policies reflect the trends in the transformation of education that govern the macro-political level. In conclusion, it can be seen that the municipal context is driving changes in classroom work, posing important challenges for teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The administration managing public services and activities is generally organized according to two main systems. These systems are centralisation and decentralisation, or local administrations. It is stated in the Constitution of the Turkish Republic that the establishment and duties of the administration will be based on the principles of central management and local management. Generally, centralisation is the provision of some public services and activities from a single point, from the state centre. Local administration is the provision of some public services and activities by public legal entities outside the general administrative hierarchy, organised outside the state. The administration of Türkiye is separated into two as general administration or centralisation, and local administrative authorities. The central administration is separated into two as capital organization and provincial organisation. The local administrative authorities are also separated into two as the management bodies directed towards the locality and those directed towards the service. The management bodies directed towards the locality are stated in the Constitution (provincial administration) in the form of municpality and village, and it is stated that their decision-making bodies will be formed through election by legally proscribed voters. The municipal bodies listed among local administrations in the Constitution are stated as the city council, the municipal council and the mayor in the Municipality Law no. 5393. Members of the city council and the mayor are selected through direct election by the voters. The municipal council is a mixed committee formed of members elected by the city council from among its own members and senior municipal managers appointed by the mayor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines and explains the problems encountered and strategies employed by the street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) used during COVID-19 Pandemic response efforts in Türkiye. To this end, the authors adopted Michael Lipsky's street-level bureaucrat concept to explain the conditions and challenges faced by various Turkish street-level bureaucrats (e.g., doctors, nurses, security personnel, and teachers) during the COVID-19 Pandemic response efforts. The article ends with discussing and categorizing strategies used by the Turkish SLBs and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What motivates bureaucrats to integrate refugees into welfare services even when they do not have any legal obligation to do so? How do they decide which services to include refugees and which not? Based on 61 semi-structured interviews with local municipal bureaucrats in Istanbul, and representatives of humanitarian agencies that collaborate with local municipalities I find that bureaucrats choose to cater different types of services to refugees depending on their motivation for extending services. Most municipal bureaucrats initiate cash, food, and in-kind goods transfers to refugees with extrinsic motivations – with the aspiration of appeasing the voters in their locality and protecting the mayor from a possible electoral backlash. Contrastingly, bureaucrats with professional motivations conduct needs assessments and initiate service and program development efforts in response to the specific needs of refugees in their municipalities. These findings are significant as they illustrate that local bureaucrats' motivations for service extension play a great role in explaining the variation in types of services that refugees can access and terms and conditions of access. They also demonstrate that inclusive distributive behavior toward refugees does not always emanate from bureaucrats' motivations of helping and benefiting refugee populations but can be instigated by extrinsic motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to explore political representatives' experiences of child participation in decision‐making processes in municipalities. Interviews were conducted with Swedish politicians (n = 7) representing four municipalities. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Politicians had experiences in child participation and methods for involving children and young people in the practice. However, methods were not formalized within the organizations, underlining that work lies ahead to ensure children's participation in decisions that concern them. Further research should focus on methods for including child participation at the municipal level and on following the implementation of the UNCRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of matters of cross-border cooperation, with the main emphasis on the typology and development of structures supporting cross-border cooperation in a selected region of the Czech Republic (South Bohemian Region). The study focuses on the analysis of changes in the methods and ways of cooperation of municipalities in the programming periods 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 (Euroregions, cross-border impulse centers, European territorial cooperation groups, partner and friendly cities, etc.). The research not only analyzes the actual development of cooperation between municipalities in the region studied, but also identifies the prerequisites of and barriers to cross-border cooperation. The data obtained show a significant decrease in the interest of municipalities in cross-border cooperation within the conditions of the Czech Republic in recent years. The current situation with regard to the existence and development of cross-border cooperation in 2024 is not very satisfactory, although it is paradoxically an area strongly supported by the EU Cohesion Policy. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of cross-border cooperation in the South Bohemian Region. A thorough review of existing literature on cross-border cooperation and related policies was conducted to establish a theoretical framework. The practical part of the study is based on field research carried out by the author in 2007–2013 and 2014–2020. This research examined the level of cooperation between the 623 municipalities in the South Bohemian Region (in 2016, there were 624 municipalities in the region). In the case of cross-border impulse centers, the input data were represented by e-mail and telephone inquiries to representatives of individual municipalities and the websites of Euroregions. To conduct a comprehensive study on cross-border cooperation between municipalities in the South Bohemian Region, logical and scientific methods were used. Universal methods of logic ensured the correctness and orderliness of the thought process, with abstraction identifying key elements. Synthesis was used to divide the study into parts, analyze them in detail, and integrate them into a comprehensive analysis. Scientific methods included analysis to examine the current status and frameworks of cross-border cooperation and comparison to identify similarities or differences between the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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AbstractThe aim of this study was to explore community-working occupational therapists’ involvement in research and development projects. A cross-sectional survey of occupational therapists working in community-based services in Norway (n = 617) was conducted. In all, 117 of the 617 participants responded that they were involved in research and development projects. Greater likelihood of participation in research and development work were found for occupational therapists who had completed further education. Current and prioritized research topics were professional development and the development of interprofessional and professional service designs for occupational therapy. Service and quality development, rehabilitation and technology were areas where more knowledge was considered needed. To increase the growth and success of occupational therapy research and development, it is important that more occupational therapists in the municipality continue to complete further education. High-quality occupational therapy practice should be based on research and development projects in the municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of periods of austerity, generally connected with economic crises, are not only reflected in the financial performance of local governments but also in the range in which they can face shocks. Monitoring the vulnerability and resilience associated with these shocks and the subsequent impacts on the financial situation of Slovak municipalities points to financial resilience, the ability to be proactive or, on the contrary, to be passive as a reaction to evolving environmental conditions. The paper examines the ability of 2,923 Slovak municipalities in the period 2005 - 2022, according to their size categories, to respond to periods of austerity in the economic reality of the Slovak Republic: The Global Financial Crisis from 2009 and the recent ongoing economic crisis arising from the crisis COVID-19, the subsequent military crisis in Ukraine, and the related energy crisis (multi-crisis). The resilience and vulnerability of Slovak municipalities, considering the size categories, are measured by employing a primary dispersion measure as the standard deviation of six financial indicators mirroring the local government's performance in the form of indexes linked to 2005. The results confirm the vulnerability of Slovak local governments in considered eras of austerity with relevant recovery periods, demonstrating a considerable degree of resilience. Besides, we reveal other structural breaks in the monitored period, which influenced the economic circumstances of Slovak municipalities, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a survey, this article analyses the satisfaction with communication between citizens and public servants in the Municipality of Ljubljana (MOL). It highlights the potential of a citizen relations management tool to emphasise the importance of effective communication between the municipality and citizens, the role of civic engagement in the development of the municipality and the importance of understanding and managing differences in satisfaction between citizens and public servants. A notable satisfaction gap exists, with citizens generally more satisfied than public servants, except for accessibility to initiatives and problem-solving. The study recommends adopting successful tools, such as those used in Ljubljana, to improve communication, citizen participation and the quality of services. It emphasises the importance of understanding communication dynamics to tailor municipal improvements and promote civic engagement and calls for further research in Central and Eastern European municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cybersecurity is a crucial concern for local governments as they serve as the primary interface between public and government services, managing sensitive data and critical infrastructure. While technical safeguards are integral to cybersecurity, the role of a well-structured policy is equally important as it provides structured guidance to translate technical requirements into actionable protocols. This study reviews local governments' cybersecurity policies to provide a comprehensive assessment of how these policies align with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, which is a widely adopted and commonly used cybersecurity assessment framework. This review offers local governments a mirror to reflect on their cybersecurity stance, identifying potential vulnerabilities and areas needing urgent attention. This study further extends the development of a cybersecurity policy framework, which local governments can use as a strategic tool. It provides valuable information on crucial cybersecurity elements that local governments must incorporate into their policies to protect confidential data and critical infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is conducted to reduce the burden of field survey work on vacant houses, which currently relies on visual surveys conducted by local governments. First, for the entire area of Maebashi city in Gunma prefecture, a machine learning model was constructed to estimate the probability of vacant houses for each detached house by utilizing the municipality owned data, which provides information on the residents of each building and water consumption. Next, we developed a method to identify detached houses that do not require on-site surveys based on the estimated probability of vacant houses for each detached house using this model. As a result, when detached houses with an estimated vacancy rate of 30% or less were estimated as non-vacant house, we were able to give a determination of non-vacant house to 79.74% of the detached house in the city. In addition, of the detached house determined to be non-vacant house, 99.02% of the buildings were truly non-vacant house. We also found that the districts with many buildings have a higher estimated number of detached houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management performance as a regulator of relations between all elements of the organization and citizens has always been important. In the management field, this internal mechanism, without needing external levers, can create citizens' satisfaction. Examining the municipality's performance is the best way to ensure the correct and appropriate performance of the municipality's duties. The purpose of the research is to measure the level of satisfaction of the citizens with the performance of the municipality of Ardabil Region 4 and the importance of the services provided by the municipalities. The descriptive analytical research and information collection methods were based on the library, documents, and field (questionnaire). The statistical population is citizens living in Region 4 of Ardabil Municipality. Based on Cochran's formula, the sample size was 398 people, and to increase the confidence factor, the sample size was 420 people. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. The statistical methods used in this research are Kendall's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis, and t-test. The results of the findings indicate that measuring the level of satisfaction of the citizens with the performance of the municipality in the study area is different according to their age, in such a way that the level of satisfaction of citizens under 40 years with the performance of the municipality is much lower than the average level and citizens above 40 years, the level of satisfaction has been average. The level of satisfaction of citizens with the quality of services and the way of informing the municipality is below the limit, but the level of satisfaction with how officials, employees, and employees are treated is average. There is a significant difference between the civil-technical, service, and social-cultural duties of municipalities from the point of view of the citizens of the studied area in terms of their importance, so the service duties of the municipality are the most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's era, we are witnessing rapid growth and complexity of cities and the spread of urban crises. Unilateral governance and management by the government to manage the urban society is no longer desirable and responsive. Therefore, the use of multiinteractive strategies to attract the cooperation and participation of civil-union institutions has become more necessary. One of these proposed applications is the model of urban good governance. Most international organizations have suggested this model for the citizen-oriented administration of the world's cities. This research realizes the need for Sanandaj city to use the model of good urban governance, and it has investigated the status of good governance indicators in Sanandaj city. It has also been discussed how the performance of urban management in different areas is different based on the model of good governance. The research method in this research is descriptive and analytical. The information needed for this research was obtained using library study and the questionnaire methods. Student's t-test, ANOVA, and Tukey's tests were used to analyze the data. This research shows the poor condition of good urban governance indicators in Sanandaj city. However, the status of the participation index is in a better position than other indices, and the legality index is in a relatively unfavorable position. Also, a significant difference has been observed between the performance of urban management in different areas of Sanandaj city. This means that the surrounding areas of the city, as well as the northern areas of the city, do not have a favorable position, while the southern part of the city has relatively good conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines community engagement strategies with a view to exploring whether they have contributed to either satisfaction or dissatisfaction by the municipality residents in South Africa. The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality was selected as a case study because of evidence-based examples of the community engagement strategies used during policy and decision-making processes for community needs. It draws a case study from six Cities of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. The study adopts a qualitative research approach using focus group discussion as a data collection method and content analysis for data analysis using tabular presentation. The study finds that the purpose of community engagement strategies in public policy and decision-making is not about anticipated and unanticipated results but about the community members being engaged in the affairs affecting their lives. The study concludes that the community engagement process should be open and transparent within each South African community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, the concept of organizational citizenship behavior has been widely discussed due to its importance in organizational performance, while less research has examined the external factors affecting it, so this study investigates the impact of citizenship rights awareness on organizational citizenship behaviors as an extra-organizational component through considering the employees working at the municipalities of seven biggest cities of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran, as a statistical population. This research introduces media literacy as one of the most influential variables on the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of people in the present time as a moderating variable for the first time in the field of management. Using 3 questionnaires with confirmed validity and reliability, as well as using Pearson correlation coefficient, regression tests, and SEM, the hypotheses of this research were examined and it was concluded that not only awareness of citizenship rights can cause increasing organizational citizenship behaviors in municipality employees, but also media literacy is a significant modifier in this regard. Therefore, managers of organizations should be aware that it is time to pay more attention to extra-organizational factors (beyond the factors of individual behaviors, organizational behaviors and organizational structures) to increase organizational citizenship behaviors while the effective role of media literacy on perception and cognition of employees should not be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The research aimed to assess the proportion of cooperative banks in the market of entities servicing commune budgets and to identify the specific characteristics of local government units whose budgets are handled by cooperative banks. Design/methodology/approach: Covering 1 116 communes across six chosen voivodeships in Poland, the study encompassed regions with diverse conditions and traditions influencing cooperative banking models. Primary data were sourced from the official websites of the communes and Statistics Poland's Local Data Bank. The research, conducted in the first half of 2023, employed indicators of structure and dynamics, descriptive statistics, and the nonparametric χ2 test for analysis. Findings: The findings revealed that cooperative banks accounted for 80% of entities servicing commune budgets. Notably, they predominated in Little Poland Voivodeship and were more prevalent in rural and urban-rural communes, as well as in less populated areas and communes with own revenue per capita below PLN 2,000. Research limitations/implications: While the study acknowledges limitations due to the evolving nature of the cooperative banking sector and the changing dynamics of communebank cooperation, it suggests the need for future research to track these transformations. Practical implications: Practically, the research outcomes can inform the strategies and marketing plans of cooperative banks. Social implications: Socially, they contribute to enhancing trust in cooperative banks among the public and commune authorities, underscoring their significance in local development processes. Originality/value: The study's novelty lies in its exploration of cooperative banks' market share in communal finances and its identification of commune characteristics associated with cooperative banking. It addresses a gap in management and economics literature, offering insights previously unexplored in both domestic and foreign publications, and providing current, concrete data on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research study aims to identify effective turnaround strategies that can resolve municipal financial distress by improving the audit outcomes of dysfunctional municipalities. Motivation: As many as 64% of South African municipalities were classified as financially distressed by the National Treasury on 7 December 2022, indicating that most South African municipalities require urgent intervention. There is a knowledge gap in the existing literature on how to resolve municipal financial distress practically. Design / Methodology / Approach: An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was utilised to identify effective turnaround strategies. An interpretative content analysis of Audit Action Plans was conducted, followed by a census of the provincial treasuries, the National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in South Africa. Main findings: The main research findings indicate that turnaround strategies associated with effective and adequate internal controls, revenue management, ethics and fraud prevention can improve municipal financial viability. Practical implications/Managerial impact: The improved financial viability of municipalities will empower dysfunctional municipalities to resolve their own financial distress by implementing similar effective and practical turnaround strategies, thereby improving the quality of essential service delivery to local communities. Novelty/Contribution: Improved essential service delivery directly contributes towards local economic development and job creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental right, as provided in section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Constitution), read with section 7(2), places a positive duty upon all three government spheres to realise this right. This duty thus also befalls every municipality in the country. From time to time this right is adjudicated in the context of municipal governance. This note is premised on the judgment handed down in the case South African Human Rights Commission v Msunduzi Local Municipality (8407/2020P) [2021] ZAKZPHC 35 (17 June 2021). In this case the court found the Msunduzi Local Municipality to have breached section 24 of the Constitution and related legislative provisions. In addition to the declaratory order granted against the Msunduzi Local Municipality, the court further ordered a structural interdict as a way to enforce compliance on the part of the Municipality. Against this backdrop this paper examines the use of a structural interdict as a remedy to achieve judicial enforcement when municipalities breach constitutional and statutory environmental law. The meaning and relevance of the structural interdict in relation to local government are discussed with reference to the South African judiciary's historical application of structural relief in some of the most prominent socio-economic rights cases.

Objective: Firstly, the study explores the association between timely initiation of rehabilitation and 90-day and 365-day all-cause acute readmission and secondly, 90-day and 365-day all-cause mortality in a cohort of Odense Municipality residents. Methods: The registry-based observational cohort study investigates acute contacts at Odense University Hospital from 2015 to 2020. Descriptive statistics, Cox regression and cumulative incidence rates were used for analysis. Subjects: The study utilizes initiated rehabilitation referrals within 60 days from Odense Municipality residents. Results: In total, 7,377 rehabilitation plans were initiated, including 5051 (68.5%) within the legal timeframe. Overall, timely initiation of rehabilitation within the legal timeframe was associated with a significantly reduced risk of 90-day all-cause acute readmission (Adjusted HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.90). In the adjusted analysis, timely initiation was also significantly associated with reduced risk in 365-day all-cause acute readmission (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83–0.97). Each week of delay in initiation of rehabilitation was associated with an increased risk of readmission (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.07). Further, timely initiation of rehabilitation was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of 365-day all-cause mortality (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.89). Conclusion: Timely initiation of rehabilitation within the legal timeframe of 7 or 14 days was associated with significantly reduced risk of 90-day and 365-day all-cause acute readmission. Timely initiation of rehabilitation was also associated with significant reduction in the risk of 365-day all-cause mortality. Timely initiation of rehabilitation within the legal timeframe of 7 or 14 days was associated with significantly reduced risk of 90-day and 365-day all-cause acute readmission. Timely initiation of rehabilitation was also associated with significant reduction in the risk of 365-day all-cause mortality.