Decision No. 04/2022/QD-TTg on criteria, procedures, and formalities for recognizing civilized cities

Pursuant to …;

ISSUING REGULATIONS ON CRITERIA, PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION OF CIVILIZED CITIES

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration dated November 22, 2019;

Pursuant to Joint Resolution No. 88/NQLT/CP-ĐCTUBTWMTTQVN dated October 7, 2016 of the Government and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front on sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development, and civilized city construction;

Based on the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Circular No. 317/TTr-BVHTTDL dated November 29, 2021, Report No. 316/BC-BVHTTDL dated November 29, 2021 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Appraisal Report No. 225/BCTĐ-BTP dated November 19, 2021 of the Ministry of Justice;

The Prime Minister issues this Decision to provide for criteria, procedures, and procedural requirements for recognition of civilized cities.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. This Decision annexes Regulations on Criteria, Procedures, and Procedural Requirements for Recognition of Civilized Cities.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect from April 15, 2022. Circular No. 02/2013/TT-BVHTTDL dated January 24, 2013 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism detailing standards, procedures, and requirements for recognition of "civilized urban wards" and "civilized urban towns" shall be repealed from the date this Decision comes into force.

Article 3. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central cities, Heads of relevant agencies and units are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

CRITERIA, PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION OF CIVILIZED CITIES
(Annexed to Decision No. 04/2022/QĐ-TTg dated February 18, 2022 of the Prime Minister)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

These regulations stipulate criteria, procedures, and procedural requirements for recognition and re-recognition of wards within districts, towns within counties, towns under provinces, and cities under provinces (collectively referred to as wards and towns); districts, towns under provinces, and cities under central cities (collectively referred to as districts, towns under provinces, and cities under central cities) as meeting the standards of civilized cities.

Article 2. Purpose

1. Urban landscape construction, improving the material and spiritual life of residents in urban areas.

2. Serving as a basis for local authorities at all levels to assess and recognize cities as meeting the standards of civilized cities, encouraging and mobilizing the entire population to participate in the Movement "The Whole Country Unites to Build New Rural Areas," the Movement "The Entire Population Unites to Build a Cultural Life," and the Campaign "The Entire Population Unites to Build New Rural Areas and Civilized Cities." It also serves as a basis for local authorities at all levels to assess and recognize cities as meeting the standards of civilized cities.

Article 3. Principles of Recognition

Recognition of cities as meeting the standards of civilized cities must ensure transparency, democracy, and clarity; compliance with criteria, conditions, procedures, and requirements; and close cooperation among relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 4. Authority for Recognition

1. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level decides on recognition and re-recognition of wards and towns as meeting the standards of civilized cities.

2. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level decides on recognition and re-recognition of districts, towns under provinces, and cities under provinces as meeting the standards of civilized cities.

3. Duration of Recognition:

a) Initial recognition, two years after registration for construction;

b) Re-recognition, five years after the previous recognition decision.

Chapter II

CRITERIA, PROCEDURES, AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION OF WARDS AND TOWNS AS MEETING THE STANDARDS OF CIVILIZED CITIES

Article 5. Criteria for evaluation and conditions for recognition of civilized urban wards and towns

1. Evaluation criteria include:

a) Criterion 1: Urban planning;

b) Criterion 2: Urban traffic;

c) Criterion 3: Urban environment and food safety;

d) Criterion 4: Urban security and public order;

đ) Criterion 5: Urban information and communication;

e) Criterion 6: Employment, average income, and poverty rate in urban areas;

g) Criterion 7: Urban culture and sports;

h) Criterion 8: Urban healthcare and education;

i) Criterion 9: Political system and responsibility of urban administration.

2. Conditions for recognition and re-recognition:

a) Registering with the People's Committee at the district level to be recognized as a civilized urban ward or town;

b) Meeting the criteria specified in Clause 1 of this Article (evaluation content as stipulated in Appendix I attached to this Regulation);

c) Registration period:

- Two years for initial recognition;

- Five years for re-recognition.

d) At least 90% of residents must be satisfied and agree to the proposal for recognition as a civilized urban ward or town.

Article 6. Organization of self-assessment of results in implementing criteria for civilized urban wards and towns

1. The People's Committee of the ward or town organizes specific self-assessment of the degree of achievement of each criterion according to the Assessment Table prescribed in Appendix I attached to this Regulation; prepares a Report on the construction of a civilized city and submits it to the People's Council for comments.

2. The People's Committee of the ward or town sends a document requesting the People's Council to organize the collection of residents' opinions on satisfaction and agreement to the proposal for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town (accompanied by the Assessment Report on the construction of a civilized city after incorporating the comments of the People's Council). The Report on the construction of a civilized city by the People's Committee of the ward or town must be publicly announced to collect opinions within thirty days.

3. After the opinion collection period, the People's Committee of the ward or town collaborates with the People's Council to compile residents' opinions on satisfaction and agreement to the proposal for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town; participate in completing the Report on participation in the construction of a civilized city by the People's Council and other political and social organizations.

4. The People's Committee of the ward or town prepares a dossier for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town to submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level in accordance with Article 7 of this Regulation.

Article 7. Dossier for Recognition and Re-recognition of Civilized Urban Wards and Towns

The ward or town applying for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town shall prepare a dossier including:

1. A proposal for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town.

2. A report on the construction of a civilized city.

3. A summary from the People's Council of the ward or town on the results of collecting residents' opinions on satisfaction and agreement to the proposal for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town.

4. A report from the People's Council of the ward or town and other political and social organizations on the results of participating in the construction of a civilized city.

Article 8. Procedures for Recognizing and Re-recognizing Communes and Towns Meeting Civilized Urban Standards

1. The People's Committee of the commune or town shall prepare the dossier in accordance with Article 6 of this Regulation and submit it to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district.

2. Within three working days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district shall establish a Verification Board to examine, recognize, and re-recognize communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards (referred to as the Board).

3. Members of the Board include:

a) The Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the People's Committee of the district shall be the Chairman of the Board;

b) A representative of the Department of Culture and Information shall be the Vice-Chairman of the Board;

c) Representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the district, the Departments of Culture and Information, Urban Management, or Economic Infrastructure, and other relevant departments shall be members of the Board.

4. Within five working days from the date of establishment, the Board shall convene a meeting to discuss, vote on examining, recognizing, and re-recognizing communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards.

The meeting can only proceed if at least 70% of the Board members are present.

The permanent office of the Board under the People's Committee of the district shall complete the dossier for examination, recognition, and re-recognition when the consensus of the participating Board members reaches 90% or more, and submit it to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district for consideration and decision.

5. Within five working days from the date of the verification results, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the district shall issue a decision to recognize and re-recognize communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards. In cases where recognition and re-recognition are not granted, a written response must be provided with clear reasons stated.

6. The certificate of recognition and re-recognition of communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards shall be implemented according to the model attached as Appendix III to this Regulation.

Article 9. Announcing the Results of Recognition and Re-recognition of Communes and Towns Meeting Civilized Urban Standards

1. The Chairman of the People's Committee of the district shall announce the list of communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards and publicize it through mass media and the district's electronic information website.

2. The deadline for announcing the list of communes and towns meeting civilized urban standards shall not exceed thirty days from the date of the recognition and re-recognition decision.

Chapter III

CRITERIA, PROCEDURES FOR EXAMINING, RECOGNIZING AND RE-RECOGNIZING DISTRICTS, TOWNS, AND PROVINCE-CITY LEVEL CITIES MEETING CIVILIZED URBAN STANDARDS

Article 10. Criteria for Evaluation and Conditions for Examining, Recognizing and Re-recognizing Districts, Towns, and Province-City Level Cities Meeting Civilized Urban Standards

1. Evaluation criteria include:

a) Criterion 1: Urban planning;

b) Criterion 2: Urban traffic;

c) Criterion 3: Urban environment and food safety;

d) Criterion 4: Urban security and public order;

đ) Criterion 5: Urban information and communication;

e) Criterion 6: Employment, average income, and poverty rate in urban areas;

g) Criterion 7: Urban culture and sports;

h) Criterion 8: Urban healthcare and education;

i) Criterion 9: Political system and responsibility of urban administration.

2. Conditions for Examination, Recognition and Re-recognition:

a) Registering with the Provincial People's Committee to meet civilized urban standards for districts, towns, and province-city level cities.

b) Meeting the criteria set out in Clause 1 of this Article (evaluation content as specified in Appendix II attached to this Regulation).

c) Registration period:

- Two years for initial recognition;

- Five years for re-recognition.

d) All directly subordinate communes and towns being recognized and re-recognized as meeting civilized urban standards.

đ) All directly subordinate villages (if any) being recognized and re-recognized as meeting new rural standards.

Article 11. Organization of Self-assessment of the Implementation of Criteria for Districts, Towns, and Province-City Level Cities Meeting Civilized Urban Standards

1. The People's Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city shall organize a specific self-assessment of the actual degree of achievement of each criterion according to the evaluation table prescribed in Appendix II attached to this Regulation; prepare a Report on the Construction of Civilized Urban Areas and submit it to the same-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee for comments.

2. The People's Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city shall send a document requesting the same-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to organize the collection of citizens' opinions on satisfaction and agreement to recognize and re-recognize as meeting civilized urban standards (attached with the Evaluation Table of the Report on the Construction of Civilized Urban Areas after incorporating the comments of the same-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee). The Report on the Construction of Civilized Urban Areas of the People's Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city must be publicly announced and notified for comments within thirty days.

3. Upon expiration of the comment period, the People's Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city shall cooperate with the same-level Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to compile citizens' opinions on satisfaction and agreement to recognize and re-recognize as meeting civilized urban standards; participate in completing the Report on Participation in the Construction of Civilized Urban Areas of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city and political-social organizations.

4. The People's Committee of the district, town, or province-city level city shall prepare a dossier for recognition and re-recognition as meeting civilized urban standards and submit it to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in accordance with Article 12 of this Regulation.

Article 12. Documents for requesting recognition and re-recognition of districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas

The district, town, provincial city proposing recognition and re-recognition of meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas shall establish documents including:

1. A proposal for recognition and re-recognition as a civilized urban ward or town.

2. A report on the construction of a civilized city.

3. Report from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the district, town, provincial city on the results of collecting satisfied opinions and agreement to request recognition and re-recognition of meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas from citizens.

4. Report from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the district, town, provincial city and political-social organizations on the results of participating in building civilized urban areas.

5. Report explaining and adopting comments from the review.

Article 13. Procedures and formalities for recognizing and re-recognizing districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas

1. The People's Committee of the district, town, provincial city shall establish documents according to the provisions of Article 12 of this Regulation and submit them to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

2. Within five working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall establish a Review Board to examine, recognize and re-recognize districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas (hereinafter referred to as the Board).

3. Members of the Board include:

a) The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or Deputy Chairman shall be the Chairman of the Board;

b) Representatives of the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Department of Construction shall be Vice Chairmen of the Board;

c) Representatives of the leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, relevant departments and agencies shall be members of the Board.

4. Within five working days from the date of establishment, the Board shall convene meetings, discuss, and vote to examine, recognize and re-recognize districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas.

The meeting can only proceed if at least 70% of the Board members are present.

The permanent office of the Board under the Provincial People's Committee shall complete the documents for examination, recognition and re-recognition when the consensus opinion of the attending Board members reaches 90% or more, and submit them to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision.

5. Within five working days from the date of obtaining the review results, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall issue a decision to recognize and re-recognize districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas. In cases where recognition and re-recognition are not granted, there must be a written response stating the reasons.

6. The certificate of recognition and re-recognition of districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas shall be implemented according to the model attached as Appendix IV to this Regulation.

Article 14. Announcing the results of recognition and re-recognition of districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas

1. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall announce the list of districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas and publicize it through mass media and the provincial electronic information website.

2. The deadline for announcing the list of districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas shall not exceed thirty days from the date of the recognition and re-recognition decision.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 15. Awards and funding

1. The Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels shall consider and decide on awards for wards, towns, districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas according to current regulations.

2. Funding for organizing the recognition and re-recognition of meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas shall be allocated within the annual regular budget expenditure plan of the locality according to the state budget classification and other socialized funding (if any) as prescribed by law.

Article 16. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate to direct, monitor, and compile the implementation of this Regulation.

2. Ministries and agencies equivalent to ministries shall, based on their functions and tasks in state management, be responsible for implementing this Decision.

3. It is proposed that the Standing Office of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front coordinate to direct and supervise the implementation of this Regulation in the campaign "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas"; guide the organization of collecting citizens' satisfaction opinions on the results of building civilized urban areas. Members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and social organizations within their functional and task scope shall participate in supervision, mobilizing resources, and supporting the implementation of criteria for evaluating wards, towns, districts, towns, provincial cities meeting the criteria for civilized urban areas.

4. The Provincial People's Committee shall be responsible:

a) Directing, organizing, and implementing this Regulation in the locality and allocating resources to ensure the achievement of the goal of building civilized urban areas;

b) Assigning specialized agencies and officials from various sectors to follow up and advise on implementation;

c) Directing departments, agencies, District People's Committees, Commune People's Committees to cooperate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level and its member organizations in organizing evaluations, collecting opinions, and implementing procedures for requesting recognition and re-recognition of civilized urban areas;

d) Taking the lead in evaluating the results of building civilized urban areas in the locality.

5. The Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels shall be responsible for the results of implementing the assigned tasks under this Regulation.