13.02.2023
Meeting press release of the the Board of the Regional Assembly
The provincial government met on Monday 13 February for a hybrid meeting. On advocacy matters, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä told about the state and provincial regional development discussions that took place last week. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is involved in the themes of security of supply and overall safety.
Complement to the selection of the Provincial Director - Vehkaperä interview
The position of Provincial Director will be vacant as of 1 April 2023. Eleven applications were received for the vacant post of Provincial Director. The Provincial Government noted that Tiina Rajala and Mirja Vehkaperä had supplemented their application after the application period had ended. The Provincial Government has been supported by a preparatory group and expert work from Eezy Personnel has been purchased for the filling process of the post.
An interview has been conducted for the position of Provincial Director five applicants 24 January 2023, of which three applicants Invited to a management-level assessment.
The Provincial Government decided to invite Mirja Vehkaperä for an interview on the proposal of the study group that met on Sunday 12 February 2023. The interview will be held at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia on 16 February 2023. The interview team was authorised to decide on the possible invitation of Vehkaperä to a management-level personnel assessment carried out by Eezy Personel.
The Provincial Government decided to hold an extraordinary electronic meeting on Monday, 27 February 2023.
Preparation of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase in Northern Ostrobothnia is progressing
The consultation on the preparation phase of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase took place from 8 August to 23 September 2022. Some contributors were granted extensions and the last feedback was received only towards the end of 2022. The majority of those who gave feedback felt that the objectives of the regional plan and the content entities discussed in the plan were well justified and necessary. The themes of the phase county plan were generally considered topical. The feedback received will be taken into account in more detailed responses on a case-by-case basis. The phase county plan will proceed to the official and municipal guarantee of the proposal phase in accordance with the Land Use and Building Decree in autumn 2023. A second consultation with the authorities will take place towards the end of 2023 and a public consultation on the proposal phase will take place in early 2024. The goal is to have the phase regional plan approved in May-June 2024.
The effects of wind power construction on the North Ostrobothnia eagle population have been investigated
The increase in the volume of wind power projects and the focus on the hinterland has led to the fact that the eagle and wind power will compete for the same areas in the future. Biologist Hannu Tikkanen has prepared a report on the effects of wind power construction on eagle populations. The study examined the overall impacts of regional wind power areas on the eagle population in Northern Ostrobothnia and provided recommendations for land use planning. North Ostrobothnia has 89 eagle reefs, of which 82 are located in a built, planned, ongoing project or a potential wind power area in accordance with the TUULI project's location management model. The combined risk of power plant sites in already built, planned and ongoing projects is below the regional risk limit, but the risk limit is exceeded in several regions in the regional review.
According to the report, the computational critical limit for collision risk is exceeded in most of the registers. The cumulative combined effects of all wind power sites on the eagle population of the settlement area become significant when the calculated additional mortality exceeds more than twice the critical amount. Provincial planning recommends that projects be steered more efficiently outside the eagles' core tracks and that future projects are not likely to be planned in areas with significant impacts. This is important both for the smooth progress of projects and for the conservation of the species.
Changes in membership
- Pauli Harju was resigned from the Regional Sports Council and Markus Erkkilä was appointed Northern Ostrobothnia's representative to the Regional Sports Council for the remainder of his term of office.
- Due to personnel changes in the Union office, representatives were updated to the Advisory Board for Northern Finland with regard to the office holders of the Union of Northern Ostrobothnia.
- What Pietilä was granted a resignation from the county's cooperation group and Jari Männikkö from Oulainen was appointed as a member of the county's cooperation group. Janne Lindström was appointed as an alternate member of STTK ry to replace Harri Kastell in the regional cooperation group.
In brief
- The Provincial Government decides to propose to the Provincial Council that it treats the influencing measures of the Government Programme objectives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia as a state of play.
- The provincial government held a referral discussion on the draft investment programme for the state fairway network for 2024-2031 and mandated the Federation’s office to finalise the statement. A separate statement from the Presidium of the Provincial Council and Government will be issued on the matter.
- The 2022 Internal Audit Report was flagged for information.
- Decisions of the Regional Director for the period 7.1.-3.2.2023
- Statements issued by the Office for the period 7 January - 3 February 2023
- The Provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland will organise a meeting and discussion with Finnish MEPs and Members of Parliament of Eastern and Northern Finland on 23 February 2023 in Helsinki
- Sari Nurro, Member of the Provincial Government, has been elected Chairman of the Maritime Working Group of the Baltic Sea Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) and Jari Leathernen, Member of the Provincial Government, has been elected Chairman of the Arctic Stakeholder Working Group.
Agendas and minutes
Agenda of the provincial government
the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region agendas and minutes
Additional information
Jussi Ylitalo, President of the the Board of the Regional Assembly, tel. +358 45 160 6466
Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä, tel. +358 40 685 4045
