General policy programme
General policy programme 2006-2012
The programme submitted by the partners in the majority for the 2006-2012 legislature reflects the guiding principles governing the management process to be applied. Solidarity will be central to policymaking: solidarity with citizens within the local community, intergenerational solidarity and solidarity between people.
Our aim is to make a contribution to improving everybody's quality of life and social interaction, creating the best possible conditions for everyone's fulfilment, while ensuring the cleanliness, safety and quality of public areas.
Our entire policy will be created from the perspective of deploying sustainable development as a unifying theme and driver for all the policies undertaken.
CITIZENSHIP AND PARTICIPATION
The majority's programme will be unveiled to the population at the start of the legislature. The municipal authorities will meet the various groups of citizens that make up society and the associations, neighbourhood committees and the municipal advisory boards. These will be asked to give their reactions to the programme. The overview of the opinions expressed and recommendations made during a participatory forum will offer the municipal authorities a "roadmap' for the period covered by the legislature. The priorities noted will be borne in mind when the budgets are being prepared.
ECONOMY AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT
ECONOMY, EMPLOYMENT, TRADE AND TOURISM
A vibrant and forward-looking economic policy is a key factor for promoting social cohesion and well-being. Hence the need to grant priority to companies with a strong attachment to the area, while developing local opportunities, as well as the entire commercial fabric as a guarantee of social interaction and activities.
FINANCE
In the interests of the strict management of municipal finance, we undertake to refrain from any across-the-board increase in the level of taxation during this legislature.
In a situation involving comparable performances, the City will promote short-term investments with banking organisations whose investment policies meet the ethical and sustainable development criteria.
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
In the light of the administrative departments, we will continue to enhance the standard of services on offer to the inhabitants, particularly in terms of their availability, reception and effectiveness.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Negotiations will be held with potential providers with a view to offering high bandwidth Internet access throughout the municipality.
SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY LIFE
SOCIAL WELFARE
Reviving the social welfare centre's momentum involves focusing on the management of human resources, financial management and seeking financial grants.
The public social welfare centre will set its sights on three mainly policy areas: social welfare, serving the people and social/occupational integration.
HOUSING
On the basis of a partnership we will facilitate the creation of owner-occupied, medium-cost and low-cost dwellings.
Special heed will be paid to housing renovation initiatives from an energy-saving perspective for low-cost, medium-cost and private dwellings.
FAMILY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
We will ensure the continuity of the Childhood, Family and Health Centre, and promote any initiatives granting priority to intergenerational and inter-family solidarity.
YOUTH POLICY
A citizenship education policy – particularly for young people - will be launched in cooperation with all the City's educational establishments, and on the basis of a citizenship process throughout the time at school.
We will lend our support to youth policy associations to make people aware of their responsibilities and teach about active democracy.
Sports venues will be open to young people under the supervision of a monitor from the
youth policy department.
SENIOR CITIZENS
Services and projects for helping the elderly and/or the disabled to remain at home will be continued or supplemented.
In the case of accommodation for the elderly, we will facilitate suitably adapted housing and/or intergenerational compact settlement projects as well alternative systems of accommodation, such as short stays, supervised accommodation... And joining forces with the private sector, we will open a day reception centre.
HEALTH AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE DISABLED
We will develop a system of coordination between all the health professionals, on the basis of the partnerships already available, so that everybody, old and young alike, may obtain the most appropriate advice and care.
We will continue to adjust roads and public buildings to the needs of people with reduced mobility.
SECURITY
The City has made major efforts in terms of prevention and increasing police manpower. Schemes for getting delinquency under control in the municipal areas have had a generally welcome outcome but insecurity problems continue or have emerged recently in various locations. The policy measures applied will focus on prevention, adjacency and interaction with the community.
On the policing front, we will continue to press for an adjustment of the KUL standard (distribution of the resources according to a scientific system of distribution), taking account in particular of our City's university component. The preventive part of the law enforcement activities has to be enhanced, in particular via a large presence at local level.
SPORTS
We are developing complementary relationships with school establishments with a view to having sports halls used outside school hours.
The plan to build baseball and rugby facility on avenue Baudouin Ier will be finalised.
We are set to extend the Plaine des Coquerées sports centre in the light of the most pressing needs.
CULTURE AND EDUCATION
CULTURE
The aim of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve genuinely playing its part as the cultural centre of Walloon Brabant is being advanced as a result of ongoing complementary relationships with the various provincial and local cultural stakeholders.
With this in mind we are preparing a "culture pass" to allow access to cultural activities at a discount for young people, the elderly and recipients of social security benefits.
EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL RECEPTION FACILITIES
Education continues to be one of the key channels for ensuring equality between all citizens in life. The municipal education system is continuing to aspire to a genuinely free educational provision for everyone.
A "nature discovery excursions for nursery school children " plan is due to be launched with the relevant City and Walloon Region departments.
On top of our continuing quality school canteen food promotion campaign, we are holding information sessions to spread the word about health and balanced diets and lifestyles.
The campaign against academic failure and dropping out of school is to be continued as a result of lending support to the opening of homework schools in areas where they are still not available.
RELIGION, SECULARISM, MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
We ensure that the principle of equality between all the recognised religions and secularism is actually observed and we will promote genuine interaction between our citizens of different religious or philosophical persuasions.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY AND NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS
We are keen to give a fresh boost to initiatives within the North-South relations framework, mainly by increasing the resources the City and the partner administrative powers earmark under this heading.
ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE
LAND-USE PLANNING, URBAN PLANNING AND HERITAGE PROTECTION
Districts concerned about the arrival of the regional express railway will be the subject of a debate on how to harness their potential more effectively.
We will make accommodation more accessible by allowing the activation of certain municipal mixed development zones (MMDZ) close to centres and public transport facilities.
We will embark upon the creation of a "green alley" along the River Dyle to the centre of Ottignies.
The structure map and the municipal urban planning regulations (MUPR ) will be recast to tailor them more to current urban planning concerns. The revision of the MUPR will also help incorporate provisions conducive to sustainable urban planning.
MOBILITY
Action has to be continued to promote transport systems as alternatives to the car. The expansion of low-impact systems (pedestrians, cyclists) will remain a key concern in public development.
We are considering the feasibility of a scheduled bus shuttle service between various neighbourhoods and also examining the scope for creating a network of automated pay stations for renting bikes within the City's territory.
ENERGY
A prudent use of energy is required, preferably based on renewable resources. The City will set the example:
CO2 emissions caused by municipal buildings and vehicles are to be cut by at least 10% between now and 2012;
Due to be set up for the purpose of investigating the green energy market opportunities, a central purchasing body will be responsible for negotiating competitive terms with relevant operators.
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