Citizen participation is the right of citizens to participate individually or collectively, in the definition and application of public policies. The principles that must govern this participation are transparency, publicity and clarity; the primacy of the collective interest; access to information and data protection; inclusion; and institutional neutrality and accountability. The new Citizen Participation Regulation was definitively approved in March 2023.

Instruments of Participation

Citizens have several specific instruments to participate in the municipal sphere, regulated within the Citizen Participation Regulations. People can make interventions in the Municipal Plenum; they have the right to formulate requests on matters under the municipal remit; or they can present a citizens’ initiative before the City Council.

Among the Citizen Participation instruments there is also the public hearing, a participation space reserved for the public presentation, by the City Council, of significant issues of municipal action and management, followed by a subsequent debate between the Town council and citizens.

Finally, the Regulation also establishes mechanisms such as direct consultation via referendum, to find out the opinion of citizens on issues of local scope and of particular importance to the municipality. Within the direct consultation section there is also the option of the non-referendum route, which is not binding for the City Council, but which also defines the public’s opinion on a relevant fact.

Participatory processes

Participatory processes are actions intended to facilitate and promote citizen intervention in the definition and planning of public policies. They have a limited duration and can be open to all citizens or be aimed at a specific group.

All participatory processes have four phases. The first is the giving of information addressed to the group that wants to participate. Subsequently, the phase of making proposals and dialogue is entered through the channels established by the City Council. Once the proposals and concerns have been put on the table, the City Council evaluates the proposals and justifies the results, so that in the fourth part of the process, the reasoned explanation about the acceptance or rejection is given to the participating people or groups around the proposals made.

Bodies of participation

Citizen participation can be established in several advisory councils, which will establish their optimal formulation depending on each case. Territorial Councils are those that are meant to debate different issues that affect the daily life of a neighbourhood or territory. They are spaces to encourage debate and the exchange of opinions. Sector Councils encourage debate in the environment of specific sector areas and other Councils can also be created to deal with issues relating to specific groups.

Encouraging participation

In order to encourage citizen participation, the City Council has opened the Municipal Register of Entities, which is a public register in which entities of citizen interest that have their main area of ​​action in Sitges can be registered. . It can be consulted on the Organizations and Voluntariat Portal at: www.sitges.cat/serveis/participacio-ciutadana .

Once the entity is registered, it receives information on municipal affairs initiatives of its interest; has access to documentation; takes part in the planned participation bodies; receives support; and can use municipal public media.

Entities of public interest can also opt for municipal subsidies, for the promotion of their association.

Mediation service

The Citizen Participation Department of Sitges City Council makes a free mediation service available to citizens with the aim of moving towards improving coexistence and a more cohesive society. The aim is to use the system for resolving conflicts or disagreements through dialogue, respect and responsibility between the parties.

To make use of the Mediation service, you must request an appointment in advance by emailing mediacio@sitges.cat or by calling 603850967. The service is offered on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

You can find all the information on Citizen Participation in Sitges at www.sitges.cat/serveis/participacio-ciutadana .