Labor Party and other parties have with good intentions agreed to decisions in the Storting, but the total has become too massive for Kommune-Norge, Lene Vågslid (Ap) and Tuva Moflag (Ap) say to NRK.
Over the New Year, Ap invites you to a meeting with KS, which is the municipal sector’s organisation, which the other parties in the Storting can also attend.
In addition, they will set up a restructuring commission for the municipalities next period.
The Labor Party politicians will not give concrete examples of unnecessary laws. The reason is that they don’t want to derail the dialogue before it has started.
– The main problem is perhaps that we do not have a comprehensive overview of the requirements imposed on the municipalities, says Moflag.
Ten mayors from different parties with whom NRK has been in contact are positive about the initiative. There are also the Conservative Party and KS.
Last autumn KS sounded the alarm about a crisis and a deficit of 15 billion in the municipal sector. The government put 5 billion on the table on Friday, but the problems are not exclusively financial.
KS then went out and called for less detailed management.
– Norwegian municipalities break laws every single day because the degree of detail is too great in relation to what is possible to comply with, said KS chairman Gunn Marit Helgesen to NTB.
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**Interview with Lene Vågslid and Tuva Moflag (Ap)**
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for joining us today. Let’s dive into the recent announcement regarding the meeting with KS and the concern about overregulation in municipalities. Lene, you mentioned that the total impact of decisions made in the Storting has become overwhelming for Kommune-Norge. Can you elaborate on what specific challenges municipalities are facing due to this complexity?
**Lene Vågslid:** Absolutely. The growing number of regulations and requirements makes it difficult for municipalities to function effectively. They are feeling the pressure, not just financially but also in terms of compliance. Many are struggling to keep up, which is leading to a situation where some might inadvertently break laws simply because they’re too complicated to follow.
**Interviewer:** Tuva, you spoke about not wanting to derail the dialogue by giving examples of unnecessary laws. However, do you think this approach might hinder the urgency to address specific issues? Wouldn’t it help to highlight particular laws that are causing the most confusion?
**Tuva Moflag:** We want to ensure that the conversation begins on the right foot. Highlighting examples too soon might lead to defensiveness rather than constructive discussion. Our goal is to establish a collaborative atmosphere to rethink how we govern at the municipal level.
**Interviewer:** Given the support from various mayors and parties for this initiative, what is the potential for real change? Do you believe it’s feasible to simplify regulations effectively?
**Lene Vågslid:** We’re optimistic about the potential for change, especially with collective support from various parties. However, it will require dedicated effort and transparency to really understand what can be simplified.
**Interviewer:** as we consider the future of municipal governance, what do you think readers might consider to be the most critical balance between necessary oversight and allowing municipalities the flexibility to operate effectively?
**Tuva Moflag:** That’s a crucial point of discussion. We need to foster a dialogue about how we can maintain necessary oversight while also allowing municipalities the freedom to make decisions that best suit their unique needs.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights. Now, to our readers, what are your thoughts on the balance between regulation and flexibility in municipal governance? Do you agree with the approach of simplifying laws, or do you feel that more oversight is needed to ensure accountability? Let’s discuss!