All land matters, both within and outside the boundaries of settlements in the amalgamated territorial communities, should be resolved subject to a decision of or approval by the council of the ATC.

That was emphasised by First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Viacheslav Nehoda during the presentation and discussion of the Draft Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Broadening of Powers of the Bodies of Local Self-Government in the Area of Land Relations" developed by the Ministry of Regional Development.

The Draft Law provides for the broadening of powers of the bodies of local self-government in the area of land relations, vesting the councils of amalgamated communities with the powers to manage the state-owned lands within the boundaries of the entire community's territory.

"The Government's Concept of Reforming Local Self-Government and Territorial Structure of Power provides for ensuring the ubiquity of local self-government of the basic level. That is, the councils of capable communities should be able to influence and, consequently, bear responsibility for everything taking place in their territory. Therefore, we also have to finally transfer land matters under the jurisdiction of the amalgamated communities. The jurisdiction should extend to the entire territory of the communities rather than be limited, as the fact is now, with the lands within the boundaries of settlements",  

The Draft Law amends the Land Code, the Law "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine", and the Law "On Land Lease".

In particular, the amalgamated communities are proposed to be vested with the following powers in the area of land relations:

• disposal of the state owned lands;
• allocation of land plots for the purposes of use, which plots comprise the state owned lands;
• change of the designated purpose of privately owned land plots regarding the land plots outside the boundaries of a settlement;
• transfer of land plots into ownership or for the purposes of use for all needs, which plots comprise the state owned lands;
• sale of state owned and municipally owned land plots to individuals and legal entities;
• exclusion of land plots allocated for the purposes of use from the state or municipal ownership.

Also, the Draft Law has determined the list of state-owned lands which may not be transferred into municipal ownership.

Representatives of the State Service for Geodetic Surveying, Cartography and Cadastre, all-Ukrainian associations of self-government bodies, and experts present at the discussion supported, on the whole, the Draft Law and noted its relevance and importance for the amalgamated communities and the reform in general.

Today, the Draft Law will be submitted to the central bodies of executive power for its finalisation and approval.

You can find the text of the Draft Law HERE 

As it was reported, in pursuance of the instruction given by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, the Ministry of Regional Development jointly with experts has developed a draft law regarding the transfer to the amalgamated territorial communities of powers in terms of land resources management in the entire territory of the community.