Town Council Research Articles

In suo Patrocinio - landowners in Dąbrówka and Ostałówka in the 17th century

Dąbrówka and Ostałówka founded in the 14th century were once two private villages, the latter is now the hamlet of the former. Until today, both have not been discussed in literature, and their owners were for instance land judge of Zator and vice-voivode Piotr Strzała from Krakow, valet of Mikołaj Zebrzydowski – Hieronim Strzała, subprefect of Żywiec Stanisław Biegański, Krakow town councillor Jakub Reynekier or master of the pantry (stolnik) of Podolia Michał Wilkoński. Apart from a brief overview of the villages and their inhabitants in the 17th century, the author introduced the noble families who were the landowners of the local estates. The text is supplemented with a source edition of the foundation of the cows by Jan and Barbara née Strzała Paszkowski family. The document is a testimony to the severe plague of 1663 and the relationship of the Dąbrówka and Ostałówka owners with the local rural community and parish in Stryszów.

Improving Service Delivery: A Namibian Local Authority Case Study

Local government assumes a fundamental role in the life of every citizen by providing services classified as physiological needs. Deficiencies in the delivery of such services to the citizens is viewed as a contravention of their fundamental human rights. The consequences of such deficiencies trigger frustration and unrest in the citizens, exhibited in political instability, damage to state property, and at its pinnacle the loss of lives. This research study investigated the concerning levels of organizational performance at the Arandis Town Council in the Erongo region of Namibia. The investigation was motivated by a need to determine the factors that affect service delivery, with the objectives to provide recommendations to improve service delivery and organizational performance. We employed a quantitative research method to collect the primary data for the study. An illustrative logical research configuration was selected, and data were gathered with the primary purpose to obtain a quantitative understanding on the topic. The data were processed utilizing SPSS version 25 statistical software to present the data in graphical format. In a bid to reduce inefficiencies in service delivery, certain recommendations are made to the town council for consideration. These include implementing a risk register, compiling a maintenance plan, applying for maintenance grants, providing training programs to its employees, commercializing the servicing of land and the development of affordable housing, developing additional revenue streams, and prioritizing the creation of employment.

Effect of Intercropping Maize and Beans on the Maize Yields in Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District, South Western Uganda

The study aimed at determination of the effect of intercropping maize and beans on the maize yields Isingiro Town Council, Isingiro District, South Western Uganda. The study used a randomized complete block (RCBD) experiment in which 8 treatments in 4 replicas of each to make a total of 32 sub-plots. Two rows of maize spaced at 4.5cm within rows and 90cm between rows were intercropped with two rows of velvet beans spaced at 30cm with rows and 90cm between rows. Two rows of NABE16 spaced at 4.5cm within rows and 75cm between rows were intercropped with maize a pacing of 5.5cm within rows and 75cm between rows. Rows of beans were separated from those of maize by 75cm in a 10m by 8m sub-plot. The experiment was conducted in two seasons (March to May 2020 and August to November 2021). Standard agronomical practices were followed from planting to harvesting, after which dry maize grain weight was taken and recorded. Data analysis was done using ONE WAY ANOVA in STATA version 13. Results show that the significant statistical difference in season one (p = 0.0000)** was higher than that in season two (p = 0.0211)*. The study concluded that unpredictable (too much or too little) rainfall negatively affects maize productivity. Early planting and application of organic fertilizers were recommended to improve maize productivity.

A critical psychometrical analysis of customer relationship management practices in the Local Government Authorities in SADC

The purpose of the study is to explore the critical success factors for CRM in the local government authorities in SADC. Although many empirical studies have been conducted on customer-relationship-management (CRM), little research on the psychometric properties of CRM scale items in the local government authorities’ context has been conducted. This empirical study, based on key informant data drawn from sampled local government authorities in three SADC countries (Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa), developed a reliable scale with demonstrated content and convergent validity. In this study, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed using the Amos 18 version and the SPSS version 20 software. The study results revealed that for CRM Strategy success to be achieved, LGA needs to consider the following factors: Due diligence, Strategy focus and alignment, customer focus, change management, Implementation Strategy, Implementation approach, Metrics, Project management, Process design, Buy-in and adoption. Therefore, the study results suggested that city and town council managers must seriously consider all the ten critical success factors to improve the CRM performance of local government authorities.

New Local Government System: A Step Towards Community Empowerment?

Failure of the central/provincial governments to adequately capture local preferences and provide basic services strengthened the case for a new local government system for delivery of public services along with the authority to impose fees, taxes, user charges, etc. to finance these services. The new System aims at transferring political, administrative and fiscal powers1 from higher tiers of the government to lower tiers (Figure 1) in order to bring governments closer to common citizens for greater accountability and better understanding of the needs and preferences of people. National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) was entrusted the task of designing a local government system which presented its first blue print in the form of “Devolution Plan 2000”. As a result of this exercise a new Local Government System has been installed in Pakistan on 14th August 2001 after the promulgation of Local Government Ordinance 2001 by all the four Provinces. The new System comprises a District Government or a City District Government and Zila Council in a district, Tehsil Municipal Administration and Tehsil Council in a tehsil (a Town Municipal Administration and Town Council in a town in a city district) and Union Administration and Union Council in a union. Village/Neighbourhood councils provide an interface with the lowest tier of the Local Government (Union Administration) with the community.

DOCUMENTS ON THE HISTORY OF THE HANSEATIC TRADE IN LONDON. YEAR 1451

This article contains the originals and translations of letters from the “Steelyard” and the Hamburg city council on reservation of privileges of Hanseatic merchants when trading in London. Due to that fact that the sources are a part of the merchant’s business correspondence, they are objective and informative. The documents are inscribed in a wide historical context characterized by a conflict escalation between the Hanseatic League and the British, that took place after British privateer attack on ships of Wendish and Prussian merchants. The sources analysis allows us to determine some features of the organization and functioning of the Anglo-Hanseatic exchange of commodity in the middle of the 15 century, as well as to identify relationship features of individual members of the Hanseatic League. In addition, the specific position of the Lübeck town council, that was interested in strengthening the role of Lübeck citizens for the “Steelyard” within the competition with other Hanseatic cities, firs of all Cologne, Hamburg and Danzig (Gdańsk) is considered.

Synergies between Schools and Rural Museums: Insights from the Spanish Pyrenees

AbstractThis paper analyzes synergies between two rural museums and schools in the Spanish Pyrenees: Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu and Espacio Pirineos. The foundation, organization, and development of these museums, neither of which has an education department, are examined via qualitative fieldwork (documentary analysis and interviews). Documentary analysis reveals differences in the conditions under which the museums were founded: Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu was a collective initiative by local agents based on the new museology of the 1980s, whereas Espacio Pirineos was a political initiative by the town council with the aim of promoting tourism. These differences can be seen in each center's relationships with schools, the Ecomuseu dels Valls d'Àneu's network being more developed. Nonetheless, in both museums, activities and exhibitions to attract schools are of fundamental importance. The findings show that, in the absence of education departments in rural museums, it is vital to establish networks between museums and educational entities to consolidate relationships and museum education.

ИЗ ИСТОРИИ КАЗНЫ УФЫ

In the article archival documents of implementation of the Letter of Legitimacy of rights and benefits to Rus- sian towns, signed on April 21, 1785 by Catherine II, are investigated and the history of Ufa city budget formation in XIX century for realization of its vital functions in the framework of the city government is examined. Of special interest are the tables of Ufa's annual incomes and expenses, the reports of Ufa town council on the incoming and outgoing money, bills of exchange and other monetary documents. The following are consid- ered the main sources of replenishment of Ufa's treasury: taxes and dues from land (for construction of houses, different enterprises and institutions) and real estate (profitable houses, drinking houses, inn, etc.), dues from trade and crafts (registration of different documents, certificates, auction sales), revenues from exploitation of the city property (trade rows, bathhouses, warehouses, etc.), deductions from profits of public banks, libraries, theatres and museums, and also fines and donations from different public organizations and private persons. Using a concrete example, the structure of the cost estimate was examined: participation in the maintenance of government institutions; maintenance of the city public administration and orphan's court; military service; maintenance of the fire brigade; public education; medical, veterinary and sanitary units, etc. Of interest is the history of discussions on the consolidation of the bank in the bishop's quarter, the erection of a fence around Ushakov Park, and the issue of an ammeter and photometer for checking the light intensity of electric lamps. The presented materials draw special attention to the detailed consideration of the budget items of income and expenditure by the members of the Ufa City Council, the care of the savings of the citizens of the city, the expenditure of funds with the actual economic situation and with the forecast for the future.

Investigating the Requirements of the Decentralization System in the Social Security Organization

In a system of administrative decentralization, the central government delegates the right and authority to the local or professional institutions to make decisions. In our country, the government authorities are delegated to local institutions in the form of the Town and Village Councils and delegated to the Public Non-Governmental Organizations in specialty matters. Given that the Social Security Organization is run as a public non-governmental organization in the system of administrative decentralization framework and provides social security public services instead of government, it is essential to examine the requirements of the decentralized administrative system in the structure of this organization. In practice, it can be seen that some of the requirements of the administrative decentralization system in the social security organization are not properly met. In this research, after introducing the system of administrative decentralization, its requirements in social security organization have been studied and analyzed

Is Gender Based Violence Related to Sanitation? A Case Study of Patongo Town Council, Uganda

Gender-based violence is a global problem that affects women of all races, colours and creeds. The Sustainable Development Goals also emphasise the need to pay special attention to women and girls regarding hygiene and sanitation. While lack of sanitation is not the main cause of gender-based violence, it is a significant contributor to its occurrence. Several studies have been published in the literature on violence against women in different parts of the world. Still, this study focused on Patongo Municipality, Agago District, Northern Uganda, where few studies have been conducted.
 This study investigated whether gender-based violence was linked to sanitation. The study focused on sanitation practices and gender-based decision-making. It also examined gender-based violence related to sanitation, including concerns, worries and fears, and economic violence. In general, the study looked at how sanitation practices may be linked to gender-based violence. Sanitation practice is gendered and mainly revolved around excreta, pregnancy and menstrual hygiene. These practices are the result of education, culture and economic status in the household. Therefore, these sanitation practices are shaped by different norms and roles among women and men. Men and women expressed stress related to sanitation, with women expressing it more. This stress results from the location of the latrine, its accessories and the taboos around menstruation and pregnancy. This study further explores the issue of safety, privacy, protection and shame concerning sanitation practices.
 Roles and responsibilities are gendered. For example, men decide on the location and financing of the latrine, while women are responsible for the daily maintenance of the latrine. Due to their education and socioeconomic status, women sometimes decide on the latrine's location.The community had different perceptions of gender-based violence. For them, gender-based violence referred only to sexual and physical violence. However, the study found various forms of gender-based violence in the community, including Sexual, physical, emotional and economic violence. Although these forms existed in the community, the study concluded that gender-based violence was not related to sanitation.

Tax Compliance Is Influenced By Provision Of Quality Services And Good Governance By The Government: Lessons From Tanzania

The motive of this paper was to establish the existing relationship between the perceived factors that impact tax compliance in Tanzania using SMES at Babati town council Manyara, as a case study, and develop the best ways to promote high tax compliance level in our economy.

Two New Traditional Neighborhoods for the Town of Rozzano, Milan

A town of 42,000 inhabitants in the agricultural belt on the south side of Milan, Rozzano was developed in the 1960s and 1970s on the Soviet suburban model to house migrant workers from the south. The stock of modular cement high-rises is now deteriorating rapidly and will not be restored or replaced with similar buildings. The town council intends to replace this fabric with one that is more livable, following the principles of New Urbanism. Two projects are being developed for new mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods on municipal sites. The projects will become part of the town’s Development Plan and the sites will be offered to developers who are to build the new quarters as designed. The results will serve as examples of how to renew Rozzano – using traditional local building models of urban, rural, and agricultural architecture. The initiative is a chance to create a ground-breaking example of suburban sprawl repair.

Triple Helix interactions in a rural context: The case study of a regional business incubator

This study explores the relationships within university-industry-government interactions, with specific reference to the business incubator of Penela, Portugal. It describes the formal, informal and human resource links between the sample of thirteen firms based in the incubator and universities, as well as the relations between Penela Town Council and the incubator. The impact of all these linkages on the development of the biotechnology and agricultural sectors is considered. The results confirm that the dynamics of the relations between the Triple Helix actors led to the emergence of the Penela Incubator. The latter operates as a mechanism of knowledge/technology transfer and stimulates cooperation between the university and industry, which is characterized by mostly informal links. In addition, the research revealed that these interactions had a positive impact on the development of the region, resulting in the creation of companies and the introduction of innovative products.

치유마을 공동체 의사결정 및 갈등관리 유형 분석

Rural healing tourism business has been growing rapidly in emerging markets for revitalizing the crisis of rural tourism during the post-COVID19. The study aims to analyze the pattern of decision-making process and conflict management for rural healing tourism community.BR The data for this study was collected from 30 operators of running rural healing tourism business through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using NVivo 11. The results indicated that decision-making types of rural healing tourism community were grouped into five factors in order of ‘decision-making through periodic meeting of executives (11),’ ‘decision-making through stakeholder meetings in the village (7),’ ‘decision-making by the leader of the steering committee (6), ’decision-making by the town council (4),’ and ‘decision-making through meetings with external organizations (2)’. Regarding the conflict management, conflict management types were grouped into six factors in order of ‘majority rule (10),’ ‘managing and minimizing the conflict (5), ’having occasional meeting (5),’ ’leader’s mediating role (4),‘ ’clear communication (3),’ and ‘social gathering with residents (2)’. The findings suggest that setting up the conflict management plan suitable for the types of decision-making process enables it to maximize the positive function of conflict among operators and leaders and establish an effective management system.

An Association of Quality of Life and Ageing Perceptions among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Uganda.

Uganda's population, though, largely characterized by young people, has seen the number of people aged 60 and over grow from 686,000 twenty years ago, to 1,433,596 in 2014. Effective caring for the well-being of this population requires strategic and deliberate planning that involves Quality Of Life (QoL) assessments. QoL assessments among the elderly are important in evaluating the efficacy of strategies, such as health interventions, welfare programs, health care and well-being of the elderly. However, elderly in Uganda face several challenges, ranging from loneliness, poor housing, lack of social and financial support and poor health. These may negatively affect older persons' quality of life and consequently their perceptions and attitudes towards aging. The study was carried out in 2019 in the communities of Nansana and Busukuma town councils in Wakiso district, Uganda. The participants were 380 people 60 years and older. To establish the association between perceptions of ageing and QoL, this study utilized a locally adapted version of the Older Person's Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). The OPQOL assesses three domains of QoL: Health QoL (HQoL); Social economic QoL (SQoL); and Psychosocial QoL (PQoL). The B-APQ assesses perceptions about physical age, participation in social activities, and perceptions about ability to regulate emotions as one ages. Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to characterize the relationship between the perceptions and quality of life. The majority of the respondents, 61% (95%CI 56.7-64.8), had negative perceptions towards ageing. Eighty six percent had poor HQoL, 90% poor SQoL and 83% poor PQoL. There was a significant association between good HQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 7.3670, P = 0.007) as well as with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 18.1803, P<0.001). There was a significant association between good SQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 5.3472, P = 0.021), as well with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 10.5128, P<0.001). A significant association between good PQoL and positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 9.2414, P= 0.002). Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with good QoL. Directly addressing perceptions of ageing could be a low cost and effective strategy to improve the QoL of older persons in SSA.

Trevor J. Dadson (1947–2020)

Trevor J. Dadson (1947–2020)

The contribution of social norms and religious practices towards low death registration in 3 HDSS sites of Uganda

BackgroundUganda has low levels of death registration, estimated at two per cent by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). There are 56 tribes and over 5 religious denominations with so many social norms and religious practices that could have contributed to low death registration in Uganda. Previous studies on the factors affecting death registration have not assessed the contribution of social norms and religious practices toward low death registration in developing countries.MethodsA qualitative study design was adopted to examine the contribution of social norms and religious practices toward low death registration in the 3 Health and Demographic Surveillance systems (HDSS) sites of Uganda. The methods of data collection included: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a document review of the death registration booklet. 6 FGDs, 2 from each HDSS site were conducted comprising 1 female FGD of 10 participants and 1 male FGD of 10 participants. In addition, 26 key informant interviews were conducted with the district leaders, local council leaders, health care workers, cultural leaders, elderly, HDSS scouts and religious leaders in the 3 HDSS sites.ResultsIn the 4 sub-counties and 1 town council where the study was conducted, only 32 deaths were registered with NIRA, the Civil Registration authority in Uganda for the entire year from 1st January to 31st December 2020. The study shows that social norms and religious practices have contributed to the low death registration in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda. Social norms and religious practices either hinder or discourage death registration initiatives by the government of Uganda. It was found out that burials that take place on the same day of death discourage death registration. Cultural taboo to announcing the death of infants, neonates, twins and suicides in the community hinder death registration. The burying of a woman at her parent's house after bride price payment default by the family of a husband discourages death registration. The religious institutions have their own set of rules, practices, and norms, which in most cases discourage death registration. For example, religious leaders refuse to lead funeral prayers for non-active members in religious activities. Results also showed that mixed religions in families bring about conflicts that undermine death registration. Lastly, results showed that traditionalists do not seek medical treatment in hospitals and this hinders death registration at the health facilities.ConclusionThe study shows that death registration is very low in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda and that social norms and religious practices contribute greatly to the low death registration. To overcome the negative effects of social norms and religious practices, a social behaviour campaign is proposed. In addition, community dialogue should be conducted to identify all negative social norms and religious practices, how they are perpetuated, their effects, and how they can be renegotiated or eliminated to bring about high death registration in the 3 HDSS sites of Uganda. Lastly, there is a need for partnerships with cultural and religious leaders to sensitize community members on the effect of social norms and religious practices on low death registration in the 3 HDSS sites in Uganda.

Buch des Gedächtniβ – najstarsza księga miasta Chojnic (1436–1544). Okoliczności powstania i komentarz kodykologiczny

This article contains an analysis of the codicological context and circumstances surrounding the writing of the oldest city record of Chojnice. This volume is the most important source of information about the town’s medieval history. It is in the State Archive in Bydgoszcz in the section devoted to Documents of Chojnice under signature no. 33. The date of its writing has provoked controversy among scholars, as the date of 1436 was often misread as 1466. The author discusses and analyzes the structure of the volume, the phases of its production, and dates the paper on the basis of an analysis of the dating ofthe water marks. These water marks confirm that volume began to be kept in the 1430s and subsequent pages were sown in as the pages of the manuscript were filled up. It is a typical record of entries kept simultaneously by the council and the town court; it was kept through to the 1640s. The introductory section of the volume is unique. There the councilors present in minute detail the motives behind starting it. They call it a book of memory, one that aims to preserve a memory of official matters, court cases, and transactions entered into. The author also considers the circumstances that could have influenced the late establishment of the record – only in 1436 – and points out the self‑awareness of the members of the town council as guardians of the memory of the town’s history.

Fruiturisme: The Boost of Fruit Tourism in Catalan Rural Areas

ABSTRACT This research involves an in-depth study of tourism as an economic driver in rural areas. We base it on a case study of Fruiturisme, a tourism project being developed in the small town of Aitona (Catalonia) which offers the experience of viewing fruit trees in bloom. In-depth interviews to local stakeholders are used to collect data and highlight the characteristics that foster the development and continuity of such agrotourism projects in domestic and international markets, as well as the sustainability of agrarian family businesses. The support and developmental drive by Aitona Town Council, together with the endogenous collaboration of the entire municipality, has generated an ideal scenario in which to create this recognised tourist product . The contribution of this article is to highlight this cogovernance to implement tourism activities and to go on with this collaboration to diversify the business activity of different farms and entrepreneurship in the town. .

The Influences of Open Access of Online Health Information on Patient Compliance to Professional Healthcare Providers Prescription in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District Uganda

Globally the health sector has witnessed disruptive transformation of how information is; generated, analyzed and shared using Information Communication Technologies (ICT). There is limited understanding on how patient’s access of online health information influences their desire to seek professional healthcare services or their adherence to professional healthcare service providers prescription/advise. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence that online health information has on patients’ compliance to professional healthcare service provider’s case management plans in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, Uganda. Results show that, availability of internet, accessibility and availability of information and desire to gain deeper understanding are some of key factors that influence patients to access online health information. The study further revealed that access to online health information reinforces patient desired to seek professional care services and adhere to a case management plan provided by the health workers in addition to improving patient awareness and participation in management of their health.