KUWAIT, July 3 (KUNA) -- The National Assembly Tuesday approved the budget and final accounts of Kuwait Municipality for 2007/2008 and referred it to the government.
The vote came 42 ayes out of 43 MPs present, with one abstention. The NA also approved the recommendations of the budget and final accounts committee regarding the concerned draft law.
The figures approved set expenditures at KD 146.2 million and revenues around KD 24.1 million. The deficit, some 122.9 million, is to be covered from the Finance Ministry funds for the fiscal year.
The budget committee recommended reform and upgrade of the municipality hierarchy and administrative structure according to the new municipality law. It urged long-term administrative and financial strategies and allocating tasks in line with the state's four year work program.
The committee also demanded further consideration of more non-centralization and revision of regulations and amending these where necessary. It also urged caution against set up of committees with tasks and objectives that fall within standing committees' scope of duties and prerogatives.
The committee also urged more coordination with state bodies including the Audit Bureau, the Finance Ministry, and the Civil Service Commission.
Among the committee's other recommendations was one concerning regulations of investment real estate development and the need to hold those who allow violations to go without penalty accountable. Adequate studies before BOT projects are offered for private sector execution were also urged, as was revision of all BOT regulations.
There was also a recommendation to improve standards of service to the public through an approach that incorporates more up-to-date technology and systems as soon as possible.
As for violations and mishaps that need be addressed, the committee noted Abu Fteira project, cleaning service contracts, banking and sponsorship ads contracts, and Friday market violations, among other things.
The committee stressed it was imperative to address the mechanisms of expenditure in Al-Watiyah Beach and like projects and the Produce market in Shuwaykh.
In addition to coordination between the executive body and the municipal council, the committee urged internal supervision in municipal departments and campaigns to increase public awareness on means to best utilize services, to report a violation, or to report corruption. This was in addition to a call to better educate staff on the municipal law and related legislation and implementation of such.
The National Assembly concluded discussion over the budget and accounts of the municipality in yesterday's session, but a vote was not possible then due to lack of quorum.
