Consultative commissions and working groups

The task of the Economic and Financial Affairs Commission is to advise the college of aldermen, and the municipal council, on the implementation of measures affecting local finances, within the framework of sound financial management.

It is empowered to give its opinion whenever the college of aldermen or the municipal council requests it in matters of financial management, particularly with regard to the draft annual budget and draft regulations on communal fees and taxes, among other things.

In general, it meets once a year to prepare the municipal budget for the following year.

The social affairs commission is committed to promoting the well-being and quality of life of a community's residents. The commission can propose strategies to meet the social needs of the population, with particular emphasis on children, families and senior citizens. In particular, it can develop and propose programs, services and support initiatives tailored to the needs of these population groups.

The building and urban planning commission is a consultative commission that issues an opinion on all building permit applications submitted to it by the college of and aldermen. It examines applications and issues an opinion based on the legal and regulatory provisions in force at the time the building permit is issued.

The commission may be tasked with proposing strategies and action plans to mitigate the effects of climate change, promote environmental sustainability and facilitate the transition to greener practices. It can also propose awareness-raising and education programs to inform citizens about environmental issues and encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviors.

The role of the cultural commission is to get the town moving from a cultural point of view. A team that, over the course of its meetings, will be able to work together and propose cultural projects by, for and with citizens, in a convivial and unifying spirit. The commission will give its opinion on the projects of the college of alderman, and may also submit ideas to it, while remaining in line with the general and operational objectives detailed in the program declaration of the college of alderman.

The equal opportunities commission is responsible for advising on local equal opportunities policy. It may also propose the implementation of actions and projects to promote equal opportunities for the local population and municipal staff.

The mission of the communal consultative commission for intercultural living together is to:

• to identify priorities and any obstacles encountered in the field of intercultural living together at municipal level;

• assist the commune in the development and implementation of measures and activities to promote intercultural living together in the commune;

• promote access to information, civic participation and community life;

• encourage dialogue, intercultural exchange and mutual understanding between all residents of the commune;

• to ensure respect for the values of intercultural living together, and in particular to raise awareness and implement measures to combat racism and all forms of discrimination in the commune;

• to elect municipal representatives to the Board of Governors.

The youth commission is responsible for identifying and analyzing the needs and problems of the community's young people, and for listening to their requests and demands.

The mission of the communal commission for mobility is to:

• support the implementation of the soft mobility network;

• analyze traffic-related issues within the municipality;

• organize public awareness campaigns, in close collaboration with municipal departments;

• identify and analyze public transport problems and propose improvements and solutions;

• propose accessibility improvements for people with reduced mobility in public infrastructures;

• advise on proposed amendments to general traffic regulations;

• take on any other task entrusted to it by the college of aldermen.

The partnership between school authorities, school staff and parents is exercised at municipal level through the school commission, an advisory body to the municipal council.

The law of February 6, 2009 on the organization of basic education determines the composition of the school commission and defines its members. The school board is chaired by the mayor or his delegate.

The sports commission is responsible for drawing up opinions and proposals to promote health and well-being, particularly through sporting activities. It also honors the commune's deserving sportsmen and women each year.

The climate pact is concluded between municipalities on the one hand and the state on the other. The aim is to enable communes to make progress in their commitment by means of a catalog of 64 measures reworked from the "European Energy Award" (EEA), as well as a better quantification of results, notably on the basis of indicators. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the gases responsible for global warming, by 55% by 2030, and to achieve 0% emissions by 2050.

It is therefore important, through this working group, to focus greater attention on informing and raising the awareness of citizens by organizing annual actions in the fields of energy, climate protection and mobility. The working group's role is also to help implement the above-mentioned measures at local level.

The Nature Pact is an agreement between local authorities on the one hand, and the state on the other. The aim is to encourage communal authorities to become more involved in protecting nature and natural resources, combating the decline in biodiversity, ensuring the resilience of ecosystems in the face of pressures and threats, and restoring ecosystem services. The Nature Pact aims to promote commitment to nature protection at municipal level, and to ensure that local authorities contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the national nature protection plan, the river basin management plan (ecological component) and the strategy for adaptation to the effects of climate change (ecological component).

The main task of this working group is to participate in the implementation of the 77 measures set out in the nature pact, thus effectively guiding local authorities towards a sustainable policy in the fields of species conservation and biodiversity preservation.