The Role Of Local Self-Government Bodies In Prospective Areas Of Regional Development

Abstract

The article is devoted to determining the priority directions of local self-government bodies’ activity in the development of regions. Local self-government bodies are public entities that are empowered to deal with issues that are relevant to the well-being of the respective territorial community. Protecting the interests of the local community is a key objective of local self-government. The reform of local self-government in Ukraine is currently underway, the main purpose of which is decentralization of state power with the provision of territorial communities with resources and the mobilization of their internal reserves to provide the population with an adequate level of services. Such a goal could be achieved through effective local government action on regional development. The article analyzes the normative and legal support of the capacities of local self-government bodies to determine the priority opportunities for the development of regions and to provide support for such development. It is established that the local self-government bodies in determining the priority directions of development of the regions should take into account various factors such as: geographical, demographic, personnel, environmental, economic, historical and cultural. Attention is drawn to the need for a comprehensive approach to the analysis of such factors by local governments. The article analyzes a number of factors that have a negative impact on the current state of regional development. The directions of activity of local self-government bodies to avoid or minimize the consequences of such influence on the development of regions are suggested. It has been established that local governments can use tax, information, innovation and other measures of influence in order to stimulate priority directions of regional development. The emphasis is placed on the role of local authorities in the development of tourist attractiveness of regions, in particular in the field of international and interregional cooperation as a means of forming a positive image of the regions, providing information and financial support for the development of this area of regional development.