The Gunpo City Council in Gyeonggi Province urged the enactment of a Local Council Law to secure the practical independence of local councils during its first session of the 291st extraordinary meeting on November 3.
According to the council, a resolution calling for the establishment of the Local Council Law was adopted, spearheaded by Council Member Jang Kyung-min.
The resolution demands the National Assembly and the government to expedite the enactment of the Local Council Law and to substantively guarantee the organizational and budgetary rights of local councils.
It also calls for improvements to related systems to enhance checks and balances between local government executive bodies and councils.
The council explained that while the 2022 comprehensive revision of the Local Autonomy Act granted local councils independent personnel rights, there are still constraints on organizational and staffing operations, and the budget structure remains under the control of local government heads, limiting independence.
Council Member Jang emphasized in his proposal that "the enactment of the Local Council Law is not merely an expansion of authority but a necessary institutional foundation to represent the will of the residents and effectively perform oversight and monitoring functions over the executive bodies."
This extraordinary session is scheduled to continue for 16 days until November 18.
During the session, the council will hear reports on key tasks for Gunpo City in 2027 and review a total of 42 proposals, including 20 ordinance proposals submitted by council members.
The key task reports will assess the direction and plans for major projects in the upcoming year.
The council plans to utilize the review results in the examination of the 2027 budget proposal, which will take place during the 292nd regular session next month.
Additionally, a special committee on budget and settlement will operate from December 12 to 17 to review the third supplementary budget for 2026 and changes to the fund management plan.
Meanwhile, Council Chair Lee Woo-cheon stated, "Strengthening the independence of local councils is essential for faithfully representing the will of the citizens and effectively overseeing the executive bodies."
He added, "During this extraordinary session, we will carefully examine the city’s plans and budget to ensure that citizens' taxes are spent where they are needed."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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