Participate and influence

The purpose of a customer council is to hear and take into account the views of the customer or local resident in the planning, guidance and development of activities or to gather information and experience to support decision-making.

The recommended number of participants in each customer panel is between 10 and 20 people. The panelists can be current or potential clients or people who are affected by the issue. A dedicated discussion forum will be created for them. Each panel will have designated facilitators who will coordinate the discussion and document the course and content of the debate within the framework of the planned themes.

For more information on the customer panels, please contact the City of Varkaus Inclusion Coordinator.

At the partnership table, different actors work together to address the development needs of a particular service or, more broadly, of people's living environment, and to find solutions together. The table on accessibility of services is a good example of this.

The partnership table can also be a model of participation that complements the democratic system. It enhances citizens' opportunities to have a say and provides a tool for participation and influence alongside formal bodies.

The Partnership Tables are coordinated by the city's Inclusion Coordinator.

Residents and other members of the municipality have the right to take initiatives in matters concerning the municipality's activities. The initiative usually concerns the development of a service or issue at a general level.

All initiatives are dealt with by the competent municipal authority without undue delay and the initiator must then be informed of the action taken on the initiative.

In addition, the municipal council must be informed at least once a year of the initiatives taken and the action taken on them.

Do the following:

The initiative is made informally, but in writing. Anonymous initiatives will not be dealt with. The City of Varkaus participates in the national online service Kuntalaisaloite.fi, a service provided by the Ministry of Justice, which is secure and free of charge.

You can send your initiative by post or deliver it to the Town Hall registry office.

Our contact details are

City of Varkaus

E-mail address kirjaamo@varkaus.fi

Tel. (017) 579 411

Visiting address: Ahlströminkatu 6, 78250 Varkaus

Postal address: P.O. Box 208, 78201 Varkaus

• Link to the Kuntalaisaloite.fi service

Resident and public events are open to all and can be organised by any of the city's divisions and units. They provide information or discuss current issues in the city of Varkaus. There may be external speakers or city staff to raise awareness of the issues. The events will last approximately two hours and will be announced

• on the city's website
• social media channels, and
• on an ad hoc basis in the regional press.

The aim is to

• dissemination of information
• mutual discussion
• networking and
• participation.

Events can be streamed live online via social media.

Our services include an electronic feedback service for residents.
The service is available 24 hours a day.

All feedback will be answered within two weeks.
You can give feedback on the city's services, activities and decision-making here.

In 2018, the City of Varkaus has launched the Citizen's Warkaus programme. The programme includes an organisational component with development activities. As background material, the recent Varkaus Rural Programme has been used.

The Civic Action Programme has been developed with the participation of residents and organisations.

Various residents' meetings and organisation days have been held in preparation for the CIP. The programme was approved by the City Council on 10 December 2018.

Civic Action Programme