Citizens round tables / urban walks

Democracy

Participative democracy: discussing local issues over a coffee or on the go

Since 2015 the town of Hazebrouck has established several processes for participative democracy: Citizen Tables (round tables in public space with residents) help identify problems experienced in a street, a district, or the whole town and to bring forth solutions; urban walks with elected officials, technicians and residents help examine the issues, to improve the work during the Citizen Tables; Citizen Cafes are organised on market days (Sunday and Monday) where officials share a coffee or a fruit juice with citizens while talking about projects for the town or residents’ ideas to improve quality of life. These activities take place once a year, in the five districts of the town, with the results published on the town’s website. This way citizens participate in shaping the town’s evolution, and public spending can better respond to residents’ needs. Hazebrouck also takes part in national and international conferences on participative democracy, serving to exchange ideas and best practice.