16.11.2020
Decisions of the Provincial Government 16.11.2020
The Economic and Action Plan 2021-2023 and the Budget 2021 are progressing to the Provincial Council
The provincial government proposes to the provincial council that it approves the economic and operational plan for 2021-2023 and the budget for 2021 of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The budget is balanced and the result for the 2021 financial year is EUR 0. The budgetary amendments made focus on staff salary costs, appropriations for organising events, purchases of services in the performance areas and other operating costs. In order to achieve the operational objectives, some activities require the acquisition of funding outside the scope of member invoicing.
Funds transferred to the Development Fund
The Provincial Government proposes to the Provincial Council that EUR 300 000 be transferred from the balance sheet surplus/deficit account to the Development Fund of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. In order for the federation to be able to act in accordance with the strategic objectives set and the operational objectives set for the coming years, the federation will obtain project funding for the implementation of its activities. Almost all project funding requires self-financing. Part of the self-financing of new projects implemented by the Association is proposed to be covered by the Development Fund.
Adoption of a maritime spatial plan
The provincial government proposes to the provincial council that it approves the proposal for a maritime spatial plan for the northern Bothnian Sea, the Kvarken and the Bothnian Bay as regards the Northern Ostrobothnia region: The decision will enter into force once the Regional Councils of Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Lapland have made the corresponding approval decisions. The approved sea basin plans are submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, which reports and submits the sea basin plans to the EU Commission. All marine spatial plan data is digital. The plan proposal and other materials are available on the website www.merialuesuunnitelma.fi.
Amendments to the Rules of Procedure
The Provincial Government proposes to the Provincial Council that it approves the proposed amendments to the Administrative Regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The update of the Administrative Regulation has become topical due to the legislation on information and document management. At the same time, the governance rule will be updated to meet the current needs of the organisation in terms of functionality and the necessary terminological changes will be made.
Amendments to the Constitution of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia have been approved
29 members have adopted the amended Treaty. The updated Treaty will enter into force on 16 November 2020. The treaty approved for the provincial council is notified. Amendments were made to the Treaty due to the change in the date of the municipal elections. Starting from the 2017 municipal elections, the elections will be held on the third Sunday of April. The amendment to the Treaty concerns the date of the Assembly of Representatives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. At the same time, the Treaty has been revised to bring it into line with the existing Regional Development and Land Use and Building Act.
Preparation of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2022-2025 progresses
The Provincial Government proposes to the Provincial Council that it hold a discussion on the preparation of the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2022-2025. In accordance with the work plan of the provincial programme discussed by the provincial government, the provincial council is given an overview of the preparation that has begun.
A discussion was held on the Smart Specialisation Strategy
The Provincial Government held a discussion on the strategy for smart specialisation in Northern Ostrobothnia. The strategy has been prepared in cooperation with stakeholders this year. The strategy aims to transform research and expertise into innovations by responding to the needs of the business sector and to make more efficient use of digitalisation. The success and effectiveness of the implementation of smart specialisation will be measured by monitoring the development of RDI activities and livelihoods as well as the effectiveness of project activities.
Euregio Karelia Cooperation Strategy 2021-2027
The Provincial Government held a referral discussion on the priorities of Euregio Karelia's cooperation strategy 2021-2027 and refused the members of Euregio Karelia's Board of Directors for approval. The cooperation strategy will serve as a strategic forerunner in the preparation and implementation of the Karelia CBC 2021-2027 programme for the new EU programming period in the region. The aim is for the new strategy to be completed in November 2020. Euregio Karelia is a cooperative body between North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, the provinces of North Karelia and the Republic of Karelia. The most important financial instrument in the Euregio Karelia region is the Karelia CBC programme 2021-2027, which is jointly funded by the EU, Finland and Russia.
Opinion on an appeal to the Administrative Court against a decision of the Provincial Government
The Oulunkaare joint municipal authority has appealed to the Administrative Court of Northern Finland against the decision of the provincial government rejecting the objection lodged by the Oulunkaare joint municipal authority. Oulunkaari joint municipal authority has called for a growth and export pilot network for Oulunkaari and Koillismaa - OK#Approval of the last payment application of the Growth Network project. The last payment application has been rejected in its entirety because the application has not been submitted to the authorities in the EURA 2014 system within four months of the end of the project, as required by the Regulation on the development of regions and the financing of Structural Funds projects. In a statement approved by the Regional Government, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia states that the complaint does not contain any information that would justify a change in the decision, but that the complaint must be rejected in its entirety.
Northern Ostrobothnia's digital support project continues
Regional digital support has been developed in Northern Ostrobothnia since 2018 and the current project runs from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021. The total budget for the continuation of the digital support project in Northern Ostrobothnia is EUR 185 000. The focus of the project is to continue the development of the operations of the regional digital support network, so that the network can promote the provision of and better access to regional digital support. The aim is to integrate digital support into the regional work on promoting well-being and health. During the next project period, a digital support municipal tour will be carried out to support municipalities in the development and provision of their own digital support.
Changes in the composition of the Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council
There have been changes in the composition of municipal youth councils. In addition, the municipality of Vaala is joining the county's youth council activities. The Regional Government appointed Sanni Vuollet as a member of the Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council and Joni Priuska (Kalajoki), Ville Denmark (Merijärvi), Piirre Suorsa (Vaala), Stella Jolkin (Utajärvi), Selja Soronen and Otto Soronen (Taivalkoski) as alternate members of the Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council.
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's proposal for Finland's Sustainable Growth Programme
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance, Finland's sustainable growth programme is currently being prepared to allocate funding from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility. Finland's share is estimated to be approximately EUR 2.3 billion in grants. The programme will be implemented in cooperation between national and regional actors. The preliminary plan will be prepared by this year and the final programme will be submitted to the EU Commission by the end of April 2021. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has compiled a provincial proposal on the use of funds. The three main elements of the North Ostrobothnia proposal are: research infrastructure to boost RDI and growth, carbon-neutral industry and transport, and the digital transition.
In brief
- The provincial government approved the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's teleworking guidelines. Updating the instructions became necessary due to the introduction of new information systems. The electronic working time monitoring system also enables the monitoring of working time in remote work, where normal daily working hours are observed within the framework of sliding working hours.
- The provincial government abolished the position of financial secretary, which has been vacant since the financial secretary took over the position of expert in financial administration from 1 November 2020. As the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia has transferred financial administration services to Monetra Oulu Oy, the need for financial administration personnel has decreased and the second financial administration stability can be discontinued.
- During the current programming period, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has acted as a mediator in the Structural Funds programme for Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020. The Regional Council of Lapland has acted as the coordinating federation for Northern Finland. The Regional Council of Kainuu, the Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia, the Regional Council of Lapland and the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia have concluded an agreement on the tasks of the coordinating union and the contribution reserved for coordination, which will be taken out of technical support. The contract will expire on 31 December 2020. The new agreement is being prepared so that it will enter into force on 1 January 2021.
