Reform Of Local Self-government Research Articles

Organizational features of the reform of local self-government in 1870 in the county towns of the Central Chernozem region (on the example of the Tambov province)

Importance. Cities in Russian history have always been distinguished by their special social, political, economic and cultural status, which was also manifested in internal organizational aspects. For almost two and a half centuries, there has been a domestic city government, which has gone through many modernization stages and has become an important socio-political institution in the field. In this regard, the issues of continuity and traditions in its development remain important. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the organizational features of the urban reform of 1870 in the counties of the Central Chernozem region.Materials and Methods. The source basis of the study is the materials of the State Archive of Tambov region and published publications of the Tambov Provincial Statistical Committee. Various legal acts are used to describe the mechanisms of regulatory regulation of urban selfgovernment. The methodological basis of the research is based on the principles of objectivity, historicism and consistency.Results and Discussion. The process of implementing the reform of urban self-government in 1870 in the provinces of the Central Chernozem region lasted for several years and was mostly completed only in 1873. This situation was explained by a number of reasons: firstly, the law did not contain norms aimed at the transition from the old system of urban governance to the new one, secondly, the legislator did not set a strict time frame related to the implementation of the reform, thirdly, urban societies themselves slowed down the process of reorganizing local government, making numerous mistakes in procedural There are internal disagreements among the electors.Conclusion. The formation of a new system of self-government in the county towns of the Central Chernozem region had a number of common legalized and arbitrary features. The “delayed” procedure for the enactment of the law made it possible to organize elections in provincial centers and form the practice of work of supervisory authorities. In some cities, the implementation of the reform was slowed down due to the incompetence of representatives of urban societies involved in the modernization of local governments. Finally, the censorship policy of the state and the unsettled mechanism for nominating candidates served as the basis for serious competition and numerous complaints that delayed the process.

The Reform of Local Self-Government in Ukraine in the Context of the Polish Experience

The Reform of Local Self-Government in Ukraine in the Context of the Polish Experience

THE MAIN FEATURES OF ENSURING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES OF THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC REGION

The main features of ensuring the competitiveness of territorial communities of the Black Sea Economic Region are considered in the article. The institutional framework for the development of territorial communities in the context of the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine on the basis of decentralization is character- ized. The signs of competitiveness of united territorial communities at the vertical and hori- zontal levels are outlined. It is determined that the vertical competitiveness at the regional lev- el is determined by the ability to effectively use its own potential and resources, to be in the forefront of the socio-economic development of the region, while at the national level – to suc- cessfully compete with other communities in a particular type of activity. The horizontal di- mension of competitiveness implies the ability of a community to use its own socio-economic opportunities with minimal involvement of external resources by reducing energy costs, im- proving the quality of housing and communal services, creating new jobs, supporting small and medium-sized businesses, training and engaging third-party specialists, and efficient use of land and natural resources. The signs of competitiveness of communities in the Black Sea Economic Region by vertical and horizontal criteria are analyzed in the article. Examples of successful implementation by territorial communities of measures to increase their competi- tiveness by optimizing the use of available internal resources are provided. The main problems and obstacles to ensuring the competitiveness of the territorial communities of the studied re- gion in the context of a full-scale war are outlined. The main ones are: damage to the industri- al and social infrastructure of the region, due to the occupation and active hostilities, regular attacks on sea and river ports, mining of the Black Sea, export blockade, destruction of rec- reational potential, as well as the environmental disaster caused by the explosion of the Kak- hovka hydroelectric power plant, etc. The key measures aimed at increasing the competitive- ness of the territorial communities of the studied district are proposed, in particular: improving the human resources potential in the system of management of the development of territori- al communities; promoting the development of competitive positions of the real sector of the district’s economy; carrying out systematic work to create new jobs; aiming entrepreneurs to create industries with higher added value; introducing modern energy-saving technologies, ra- tional use of natural resources, etc.

Правовая и социальная природа территориального общественного самоуправления и развитие муниципальной демократии в условиях реформирования местного самоуправления

The article examines scientific approaches to understanding the legal and social nature of territorial public self-government in domestic jurisprudence and municipal government, reveals the directions and some problems of the development of municipal democracy in the context of the implementation of constitutional reform and reform of local self-government in Russia.

ЗАСАДИ РОЗВИТКУ МІСЦЕВИХ БЮДЖЕТІВ В УМОВАХ РЕФОРМУВАННЯ МІСЦЕВОГО САМОВРЯДУВАННЯ

The article is devoted to an overview of some of the main organizational and economic foundations of the development of local budgets in the conditions of local self-government reform. It was determined that local self-government is a manifestation of the democratic management of social development, which is based on the idea of citizen participation in solving community problems. The main functions of local self-government are the involvement of citizens in issues of local development, management of communal property, socio-economic and cultural development, provision of social services to the population. The powers of local self-government bodies include the preparation of community socio-economic development programs, the involvement of enterprises and ensuring the efficient use of resources. The implementation of the organizational and economic mechanism benefits all participants in the process, because the accumulation of taxes in the local budget contributes to the growth of the quality of life of the population, creates additional conditions for the development of enterprises, the creation of new jobs, and affects the formation of the investment climate. In the conditions of martial law, changes were made to a number of regulatory and legal documents regulating budgetary issues to ensure the smooth functioning of budgets at various levels during the war. The changes concerned the provision of prompt, continuous and timely implementation of local budgets, which provide for the needs of both residents and business entities of the OTG. To ensure the restoration of the work of enterprises and organizations in the liberated territories, local self-government bodies redistribute state aid. At the same time, the biggest changes in legislation related to the cancellation of mandatory taxes and deductions to the budgets of the OTG. Further scientific research in this direction concerns the improvement of the methodology for analyzing the development of local budgets in the context of local self-government reform. A number of regulatory and legal documents regulating budgetary issues under martial law were reviewed.

Оценка асимметрии социально-экономического развития муниципальных образований на региональном уровне

The Russian economy at the current stage of its development is characterized by a high level of asymmetry in the socio-economic development of regions and municipalities within them. The unevenness of resources allocated to municipal entities increases their differentiation and reduces the possible development prospects for some of them. The administrative reform of local self-government, which implies the consolidation of territorial entities, has not yet yielded serious positive changes, so it is important to regularly conduct a study of the socio-economic condition of the territorial entities included in the region in order to choose the optimal ways of their development. The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the indicators of socioeconomic development of municipalities in the Stavropol Territory according to a selected group of indicators, which led to the conclusion that asymmetry is a consequence of the level of development of the territory in the region. Within the framework of the methodology used, the level of economic development of the territories under study was assessed, intermediate coefficients were calculated, and an assessment of asymmetry in the Stavropol Territory as a whole was presented. The study conducted by the authors allowed us to identify a number of important regularities of asymmetry in the socio-economic development at the regional level, and the proposed method can be further used in the development of programs for the socio-economic development of municipalities.

The Value of Local Self‑Government in the Process of its Interaction with the State: Constitutional and Legal Aspect

The local self-government reform in Russia in recent decades has gradually diverted this institution from the essence of its creation, embedding it in the vertical of state power under the image of public power. The 2020 constitutional amendments have only accelerated this process. The paper attempts to substantiate the need to preserve municipal power in the form that it was originally inherent in, being a prototype of the theory of a free community or at least dualism. The paper is based on the theoretical advances of scientists and the author’s insights, as well as on a number of issues of local importance, including land, tax, urban planning and other public relations. The author has attempted to show the need for local self-government at the present time, if the necessary vector of development is given to it by organizational and legal means. The increasingly expanding practice of delegating state powers and the introduction of a single-level system of territorial organization of municipalities plays a negative role in the issue under consideration. In order to overcome problematic trends, it is proposed to implement the existing institutions of municipal law in a new way, which will give positive results and for which there is a real demand from the population. Thus, people are reluctant to participate in various events related to mandatory face-to-face attendance, but actively vote for options for improving public space, do not want to be deputies of rural settlements, but help each other in difficult situations and go out on clean-up days, etc. The subsequent transformation of local self-government should be based on the needs of citizens, not the state.

URBAN PLANNING FACTORS OF LAND USE MONITORING OF UNITED TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES

There is proof that in the conditions of ensuring transformational processes, issues of formation and use of land and increasing the efficiency of their use at the local level arise. In addition, the presented processes deepen because of the reform of local self-government, which ensures the effectiveness and interaction of stakeholders. The core element in developing these relationships is the united territorial communities and land use directions and features, with consideration of the influence of factors. In the system of land relations of united territorial communities, urban planning factors that influence the development and implementation of modern monitoring tools are particularly important. The study aims to determine the urban planning factors of land use monitoring of united territorial communities. To achieve the goal, we solved the following tasks: characterisation of urban planning factors of land use monitoring and highlighting the peculiarities of the formation of urban planning factors of land use of united territorial communities. Among the peculiarities of the development of land use monitoring of united territorial communities is also the identification of a system of urban planning factors, namely the levels: development and implementation of land management projects regarding the arrangement of territories for urban planning needs; formation and application of the urban development support system; development and implementation of monitoring procedures of urban planning activities; formation and use of urban cadastre; provision of architectural and construction control; development and implementation of comprehensive plans; change in the level of construction activity in united territorial communities. We have formed local factors of urban planning support for land use monitoring of united territorial communities, with most of them determined by qualitative methods. Estimating the indicator of the change in the level of construction activity in the united territorial communities uses quantitative methods. It creates a basis for implementing monitoring procedures through the application of urban planning provision of land use of united territorial communities. Keywords: urban planning factors, land use, united territorial communities, monitoring.

Тенденції децентралізації публічного управління: сучасний стан та перспективи розвитку

The article deals with the current state and prospects for developing decentralization in public administration by transferring managerial functions and central authorities’ powers to the local administration level. The article emphasizes that despite being tested by war, Ukrainian decentralization received an impeccable assessment from the European Commission, which preceded granting our country the candidate status for the European Union membership. The history of decentralization is analyzed, and successive stages are singled out. The stages mainly relate to the normative and legal regulation of this process: the first stage (2014– 2019), the second stage (2020–2021), and the third stage (2022 – present). The third stage of the local self-government reform seems to be the most difficult since it occurred during the martial law period. The hostilities only emphasized the effectiveness of the decentralization reform: local self-government bodies responded promptly to the situation, resolving issues of settling internally displaced persons, repairing housing for them, providing facilities and premises for evacuated enterprises, and organizing humanitarian headquarters. An essential task of the third stage is adopting the Law on Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (regarding decentralization of power), a prerequisite for continuing decentralization reforms and their completion. The article examines the achievements that are positively reflected in the activities of the united territorial communities due to the decentralization process in the following areas: budget, healthcare, security, international cooperation, culture, education, and service provision. At the same time, the factors complicating the decentralization process and leading to problems in the practical and proper functioning of local authorities are considered. Attention is drawn to the need to adopt important laws, including the Laws “On the principles of the administrative and territorial structure of Ukraine”, “On service in local selfgovernment bodies” (revised version), “On state supervision over the legality of decisions of local self-government bodies”, “On local referendum”, as well as updating laws on local selfgovernment, on local state administrations, etc.

Сравнительный анализ систем регионального и местного управления (самоуправления) Казахстана и Украины

This article compares the systems of local state government and local self-government in Ukraine and the Republic of Kazakhstan. A review of the formation and development of the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine since 2014 has been carried out. A content analysis of the legal acts of both states is carried out in order to determine the legal status of local state government and local self-government of the two countries. A comparison is made of the main elements of local state government and self-government according to four parameters: administrative-territorial structure, status of local authorities, scope of powers of local authorities, budget system at the local level. The similarities and differences between the systems of the two countries were identified, and the revenue side of the budget of two administrative-territorial units of the 3rd (basic) level with a similar population was compared. The main advantages of one system of local state government and self-government over another are identified. Recommendations for the further development of the system of local government and self-government in Kazakhstan are formulated.

Decentralization as the main component of local self-government reform

The purpose of the article is to study the reform of local self-government, the main component of which is decentralization. At the same time, the main goal of the reform of local self-government, in our opinion, is timely, effective, independent provision of its effective activity, first of all, to solve issues of local importance at one’s own expense, which will further lead to the full mobilization of all internal reserves and the endowment of all territorial communities with large resources.During the research, general scientific methods were used, in particular: historical, logical, systematic. The historical method was used when considering the objective process of development of the concept of decentralization with all its twists and turns. The logical method was used to reflect the historical process of the concept of decentralization in a theoretical and abstract form. The system method made it possible to consider decentralization in the form of an extremely complex socio-political system. It is through the systematic approach that an opportunity is created to comprehensively assess the current state of decentralization, its significant resource and intellectual potential, opportunities for the establishment and development of a democratic legal state.The very concept of «decentralization» is defined, which is generally interpreted as the transfer of powers from state authorities to local self-government bodies.In foreign countries, decentralization is considered as a kind of process of transferring power and corresponding financial resources from the central to lower levels of government, such as provinces, regions, districts and municipalities. The main types of decentralization are analyzed and defined: political, administrative and fiscal, as well as the main forms of decentralization: devolution, delegation and deconcentration.Recently, in the state and society, there is a need to develop new approaches to the system analysis, composition and content of the category of «decentralization», which is traditionally defined as a kind of process in which relevant independent units are formed in a centralized state, which are the bearers of public self-governing power (Local Government). At the same time, an urgent necessary condition for the stable and sustainable development of civil society and a democratic legal state is the effective provision of an effective balance not only of national and local interests, but also the appropriate coordination and cooperation of these interests at various levels of public authority.We believe that the continuation of the most effective reform of local self-government, the main component of which is decentralization, will contribute to strengthening the capacity of not only local executive bodies, but first of all, local self-government bodies, which by their nature are the primary institution of direct people’s power.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF FORMING THE EDUCATIONAL NETWORK OF THE TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY

Context. Local government organizations have significant decision-making power in the field of education. This requires the development of understandable tools that help form a network of educational institutions that provide high-quality educational services. The object of the study was the process of forming an educational network (ENW) of the community in the implementation of territorial development projects as part of the reform of local self-government.
 Objective. The goal of the work is to increase objectivity of decisions made in the formation of the ENW territorial community, summarizing demographic, infrastructural, personnel, economic factors when choosing the location of ENW facilities.
 Method. The study of the classical placement problem and its further adaptation to real problems arising from the implementation of the education reform made it possible to represent ENW territorial communities as a set of independent complete bipartite graphs. In this case, to solve the problem of choosing the location of an educational institution on the network, an information technology (IT) was developed to form an ENW territorial community. Based on the adapted p-median model and methods of geospatial analysis, generalizing the requirements of the current legislation, a set of input and output parameters of IT and a set of its operations are formed. The representation of the IT structure in the form of an IDEF0-model clearly explains how a combination of various factors is processed and generalized when making decisions while creating ENW and looking for ways to improve it.
 Results. The developed IT was investigated in solving the problem of forming a network of lyceums in the Kharkiv region using geospatial information, open statistical data and data on lyceums. The proposed accommodation options make it possible to achieve a general level of accessibility of specialized secondary education of almost 94%. IT has additional tools for solving the problems of transporting students to the place of study and home.
 Conclusions. The experiments carried out confirmed the operability of the proposed IT. The generalization of the results obtained makes it possible to recommend it for practical use in solving the problems of analyzing the current state of ENW, finding ways to improve it and possible directions for development, as well as evaluating solutions related to the spatial planning of ENW.

Ukraine’s rural areas in the conditions of decentralization and local self-government reform: challenges and prospects

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to determine the state, identify the main challenges and risks affecting rural development in Ukraine, and assess their influence on the effectiveness of functioning and financial capacity of rural territorial communities in the conditions of power decentralization and self-government reform.
 Methodology / approach. The methodological basis of the research was a systematic approach to the study of the investigated phenomena and processes and the dialectical method of cognition, as well as general scientific and special methods. In order to assess the state and trends of rural development in Ukraine, economic and statistical methods were used in analytical studies (comparative analysis to compare the results obtained in certain years, average and relative values, trend analysis, index analysis, etc.). This was done to establish certain relationships, such as identity, similarity, or difference between characteristics and facts. To determine the influence of individual factors on the operational efficiency and financial capacity of territorial communities, multiple correlation and regression analysis was used. A number of abstract-logical techniques made it possible to formulate intermediate and final conclusions and proposals.
 Results. Current conditions are analyzed and trends of rural development in Ukraine for 1990–2022 are determined. It was found that over the past 32 years, the socio-economic crisis in rural areas continues to worsen, which is manifested in declining employment rates, increasing unemployment, rising poverty, mass migration of peasants, deterioration of infrastructure and access to social services. The main challenges and problems of rural development have been identified and systematized by groups: socio-demographic, economic, environmental and nature protection, institutional, political. To assess the factors influence on the effectiveness of functioning and financial capacity of territorial communities, a multifactorial correlation and regression analysis was conducted. It was found that the level of capital expenditures is most affected by the fiscal return of the community territory per 1 inhabitant. 
 Originality / scientific novelty. The elements of scientific novelty consist in the introduction of a systematic approach to generalizing challenges and problems affecting the development of rural areas and communities, which were systematized by groups: socio-demographic, economic, environmental and nature protection, institutional, political. The scientific and methodological foundations of studying the socio-economic situation in Ukraine’s rural areas in terms of determining the factors and assessing their influence on the effectiveness of functioning and financial capacity of rural territorial communities have been further developed.
 Practical value / implications. The identification of factors and their influence on the functioning effectiveness and financial capacity of rural territorial communities can be taken into account by state institutions when reviewing previously adopted documents and elaborating strategic plans for the restoration and development of Ukraine’s rural areas, taking into account internal threats and the long-term external aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.

Regarding the theory of demarcation of competences of local executive bodies and local self-government bodies

The article is devoted to the coverage of certain theoretical issues regarding the delimitation of the competences of local public authorities. Attention is focused on revealing the terminological features of the category’s «competence», «powers», «functions» of executive power bodies and local self-government bodies. The author focuses attention on certain features of the demarcation of competences of local executive bodies and local self government bodies.It is stated that the development of local self-government as a direct form of manifestation of public activity of the population and a free, democratic way of organizing public power is an integral part of administrative reform in Ukraine and state building in general. It was determined that the very question of delimitation of competences is quite problematic, because it is practically impossible to delimit the functions of bodies that carry out a single administrative activity (public authority) on the ground. First of all, because local state administrations and local self government bodies perform a kind of general management function, they face a common task - the implementation of the most effective management of territories. The implementation of this task requires both management centers to have such functions as regulatory and managerial, communicative, control, informational, normative, organizational and institutional and a number of others.It is argued to take as a basis the principle of control, which should be carried out in such a way that the degree of intervention of the controlling body is proportionate to the importance of the interests that this intervention should protect when delineating the competences of local self-government bodies and local state authorities.It was determined that the current state of demarcation of competences between local executive bodies and local self-government bodies in Ukraine is not in a very good condition, which is due to some problems, namely: the incompleteness of the administrative reform; inheritance of a centralized model of public administration; the imperfection of the current legislation in the field of local public authorities, which leads to numerous conflicts in the delimitation of competence between local executive bodies and local self-government bodies. It is emphasized that the current stage of administrative reform and local self-government reform is aimed at legislative improvement and strengthening of the legislative framework in the sphere of public authority in Ukraine.

Конституционные реформы и правовые основы местного самоуправления в странах СНГ в 2020–2023 гг.: новации или стремление закрепить существующее положение

The article reveals relevant information about the constitutional reforms in the CIS member states, which took place in 2020–2023 and affected the legal foundations of local self-government models implemented in the states of the association. Based on the analysis of changes in the constitutional and sectoral legislation on local governance and self-governance of the designated countries, the author draws conclusions regarding the compliance of reforms and their results with international legal standards and principles of local self-governance organization, including recommendations of the CIS bodies. In most of the unification countries, the implementation of local self-governance reform based on constitutional and legal norms was aimed at pre-serving the existing subordinate position of municipalities to the state administration. As an example of reverse tendencies, it is worth considering the constitutional-legal reform and the reform of local self-government in Turkmenistan, as a result of which a system of local self-government bodies was established in the country, which corresponds to both national-cultural traditions and international legal principles of local self-government.

Development of land relations in the context of local government reform

This scientific work analyzes the main features and problems of the development of land relations in the context of local self-government reform. It was found that today land relations are progressing extremely actively, which in turn requires effective changes in the field of decentralization, which will provide additional opportunities for their potential development and improvement. The interpretation of the modern concept of “land relations” is also given. It has been established that the concept of “land relations” should be understood as relations between the state, society, as well as business, which are formed in the process of realization of ownership, use and protection of land resources. It has been studied that relations regarding land resources play one of the main roles in society and the state in general. The powers of local state administrations and local self-government bodies in the field of land relations have been revealed. It was found that the resources of the territorial community should include relevant renewable objects of administration, including location space, greenery, natural minerals, which have some monetary value and in turn can be involved in certain processes of production of specialized products or provision of services, and, as a result, further increase the income of the territorial community. The main shortcomings in the domestic system of state control in the field of land relations are revealed, and the most important problems of land relations in the context of local self-government reform are identified. It has been established that the main direction of active reform of local self-government takes place precisely in the sphere of increasing the powers of relevant bodies in terms of the practical formation of ownership rights to land resources, the comprehensive development of land relations, as well as the implementation of strict control over the quality of use of land resources and granting the population the right to extended rights regarding the control and protection of land resources. The specified measures will be able to ensure the effectiveness of the development of the territory, preserve the quality of land resources, significantly increase the flow of funds to the local budget and improve the level of social well-being.

To the question of the need to strengthen the role of municipal administration in the realization of spatial potential of small enterprises

The sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) traditionally refers to potential points of innovative growth that can play a key role in the modernization of the national economy. The current transition to spatial research has led to the study of new aspects. The publication reveals the features of the implementation of the spatial potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in terms of resource capabilities and the quality of public administration at the regional and municipal level. This aspect is relevant in view of the upcoming reform of local self-government, which implies significant qualitative changes in the management system. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the need to strengthen the role of municipal management in the spatial development of small enterprises as a result of the planned reform of local selfgovernment. The paper presents the updated author's structuring of the economic space on the basis of existing documents of a strategic nature. The main directions of regulating the spatial development of SMEs are analyzed on the example of the Samara region (allocation of priority regions and territories, development of depressed territories, development of non-agglomeration territories, cluster interaction), as well as gaps in regulation and support at the municipal level are identified. An updated list of strategic documents on the development of small enterprises operating in the Samara region has been compiled. The spatial and territorial organization of small enterprises is reflected in the documents of the Samara region. Legislative innovations are aimed at more active involvement of the municipal level of public authorities in the development of the local economic space. The proposed powers of the public authority at the municipal level include its own, redistributed and voluntary. However, the issues of resource provision of the powers proposed for implementation come first. Based on the results of the work, a number of additions to the draft law On the general principles of the organization of local self-government in a unified system of public authority concerning the municipal level of regulation and support of SME activities have been substantiated. By way of discussion, the article assesses the possible impact of the main innovations proposed in the draft law on the activities of SMEs.

Interaction of municipal authority with local state administrations problem issues

The article is devoted to issues of interaction between municipal authorities and local state administrations, as they are relevant in view of the European integration progress of modern Ukraine.The work draws attention to the fact that the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of power brought a number of positive changes to this sphere, but did not eliminate all problematic issues, in particular, in the area of interaction of local authorities.
 In the course of the study, it was established that such relationships are necessary for the proper implementation of the tasks of the municipal authorities, which are mediated by the needs of the local population.The analysis of the regulatory material revealed that local state administrations in the relevant territory ensure interaction with local self-government bodies – this is one of their main tasks. Such relations can be based on the principles of cooperation. They are formed within the municipal formations of the basic level with the aim of solving the issues of economic, social and cultural development of the respective territories, strengthening the material and financial basis of local self-government. Attention is drawn to the fact that the concept of “interaction of municipal authorities with local state administrations” has not yet been legalized, there are no clarifications regarding such interaction, as well as undefined areas or issues for the resolution of which it takes place. It has been established that local self-government bodies are endowed with a fairly wide range of powers (self-governing and delegated) in various areas, in which the powers of local state administrations are also exercised. This situation requires an optimal distribution of powers between these local authorities.It was found that the current legislation in this area does not meet the parameters of the Concept of reforming local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine, which delimits the powers of local self-government bodies at the basic level (villages, towns, cities), district and regional levels, as well as structural subdivisions territorial bodies of central executive bodies at the basic level. The problem of interaction within the delegated powers of local self-government bodies is the lack of an appropriate mechanism for ensuring their implementation. It is emphasized that the decentralization processes and the mechanism of delegation should be based on the principle of subsidiarity, and the interaction of municipal authorities and local administrations should be based on the wide use of contractual relations to implement the needs of the local population.

Концептуальні засади реформи місцевого самоврядування в Україні та результати її реалізації

The article summarizes and systematizes the theoretical aspects of the formation of local self-government, taking into account the European experience of implementing administrative and territorial reform, outlines the range of problems that arose in the process of decentralization reform in Ukraine during 2015-2021, identifies the positive and negative consequences of local selfgovernment reform in Ukraine. A significant number of communities do not have the resources to perform new functions, the transfer of certain functions to the local level is not always appropriate, there is a need to consider the possibility of "recentralization" of certain powers from the local level to a higher one. The district level of local self-government was almost leveled and it cannot represent the common interests of communities. At the legislative level, there is no clearly defined division of powers between local self-government bodies and executive bodies. This creates a threat of "creeping" centralization of resources, when the government can transfer certain powers to the local level without financial support.

Местное сообщество: проблема институционализации

The strategic goal of spatial development of the Russian Federation is to ensure its stability and balance. The study of domestic and international experience shows that the most important component that ensures this stability is the institution of local self-government. Recently, the Russian Federation has adopted a lot of regulatory and legislative acts that allow us to talk about the ongoing reform of local self-government as one of the components of the spatial development of the country. At the same time, the fundamental issue of local communities as subjects of local self-government has not yet been clearly resolved. The article substantiates the incorrectness of the provision that a local community is just a population living in the relevant territory. It is concluded that local communities are a historical category; local communities arise at a certain stage of development of socio–territorial communities and represent a fundamental category for understanding the very essence of local self-government.