Many may skip the municipal elections as by-elections in the shadow of the "more important" parliamentary and presidential elections. In reality, however, municipal elections have the most direct impact on the everyday lives of all of us. When looking at many challenges, the role of cities is often even more important than the state. In many cases, it is the municipalities that are responsible for practical actions, for example regarding the municipality's vitality.
Municipal elections also have a big impact on the construction industry. The elections will decide whether the municipalities dare to invest in growth and renewal of the built environment. Is planning done enough and in the right places, so that the citizens have the opportunity to realize their housing wishes and the companies have opportunities to grow and succeed. The importance of the development of the built environment in municipal decision-making is emphasized even more when social security decisions are transferred from municipalities to welfare areas.
Construction industry professionals, on the other hand, have a lot to give to decision-makers. As the city manager myself and previously as the chairman of the city board, I would have wanted information about, among other things, different procurement models in the city's own projects. Alliance models suitable for large projects are one example of operating methods that RT has been strongly developing and from which excellent results have been obtained. Nor can there ever be too close a market dialogue as the background for housing policy and zoning solutions.
It is extremely important to know where to get advice and support for these matters. The dialogue between the construction industry and decision-makers must be close and continuous.
The interface between the construction industry and municipalities is huge. That's why we at RT have invested in municipal election influence. The candidates must understand how important the built environment is in terms of the vitality of the municipality, the well-being of the citizens and the functioning of everyday life. A long-term dialogue with the municipality's decision-makers and officials is the key to successful cooperation.
Construction is a matter for every municipal decision-maker
Growth, renewal, partnership. Those are RT's main themes for municipalities. Even though the municipal economy has been under great pressure for a long time, municipalities need the courage to invest in growth that creates vitality and work and secures important services. Combating climate change, adapting to it, and other big change challenges of our time require more than ever investments, especially in the built environment. Investments are also a significant growth driver for municipalities, as they speed up other construction and development and return tax revenues to municipalities.
Now is the last time when every municipal decision-maker should be interested in smooth zoning and licensing. They are the most effective business policy that municipal decision-makers can directly influence. When the reform of the Land Use and Building Act (MRL) carried out at the national level unfortunately does not seem to bring the promised smoothness to planning, the municipality's own decisions are emphasized. Municipalities have the opportunity to ensure, through their own actions, that the wheels of bureaucracy do not needlessly slow down the progress of projects in the starting pits. The best thing is that increasing the flow does not cost the municipality anything.
Along with sufficient housing construction, smooth movement, such as rail traffic within and between urban areas, is emphasized as a key attraction factor for municipalities. Municipalities' expectations regarding the healthiness, safety and comfort of public spaces and environments have also increased. Municipalities are also required to take concrete actions for the promotion of the circular economy and a lower-carbon future. In all these challenges and requirements, the construction industry can provide a helping hand.
Aleksi Randell
managing director
Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI)
The article was originally published in Rakennuslehti's Näkökulma column on 28.5.2021 May XNUMX.
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