Survey: 40% of building officials want to transition to public administration

Prague – 40 percent of employees in building authorities want to transition to the state building administration anticipated by the current version of the new building law. About a third expect to find another job or retire. A quarter expects to remain with their current employer in another position, such as in urban planning. This follows from the results of a survey by the Trade Union of State Authorities and Organizations and the Association of Local Authorities of the Czech Republic. At the beginning of March, 1274 people participated in it. The new law provides that building officials will no longer be employees of municipalities but of the state.

The institutional model seems to be the subject of the most significant discussions surrounding the new building law. Last January, the Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) reached a compromise with the Association of Towns and Municipalities, which backed away from a purely state building administration. The law was intended to maintain building authorities at the municipal level. It was also presented to the Chamber of Deputies in this form. However, the comprehensive amendment proposed by the parliamentary Economic Committee again considers the transfer of all building authorities to the state.

"Even though the survey was anonymous, a number of detailed responses were sent to the trade union, which criticized the entire proposal. We asked whether and under what conditions there would be an interest in transitioning to the new office. It will not be possible without the consent of the current employee," stated union chairman Pavel Bednář.

According to its president Stanislav Polčák, the Association of Local Authorities of the Czech Republic finds it unacceptable for lawmakers to adopt a law in a version that municipal representatives cannot comment on. "The agreement that building authorities would remain in municipalities was endorsed by the Prime Minister himself (Andrej Babiš, ANO). And suddenly, especially deputies from the ANO movement are revising their ministry's draft under the guise of opaque amendments. The cancellation of small building authorities represents enormous costs and personnel losses, which no one has quantified," added Polčák.

Minister Dostálová recently stated in an interview with ČTK that municipalities do not currently have authority over building proceedings either. It is a competence of the state in delegated powers. "Experts say it is a significant problem if local governance approves projects for itself. Currently, people in building authorities are employees of municipalities. But the mayor should not step in there. As soon as they cross the threshold of the office, it must be recorded in the file. Now, state should employ the officials. And the mayor will have a legitimate way to come there and state what they need. And they will not behave unlawfully," she stated.

According to the Ministry for Regional Development, which developed the norm, the law is expected to significantly simplify and accelerate building proceedings. The main principles will be a single proceeding before one building authority and the incorporation of concerned authorities into building authorities, so builders will not have to seek the necessary statements themselves. The law also introduces fixed deadlines, measures against inactivity, or an appeal principle, where the superior authority will no longer return matters for new consideration.

Opinions of sector unions and authorities on the proposed version of the law vary. For its adoption, the Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Industry and Transport, and the Association of Developers are in favor. Reservations exist from the Ministry of Culture, the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers active in construction, and the Czech Chamber of Architects. The Association of Towns and Municipalities even suggested withdrawing the law from discussion. Dostálová called this irresponsible politicking.