Since 2017, Resident Councils have been fostering participatory democracy in Stains. The municipality has decided to renew their operation with the ambition of giving more space to residents, their ideas, and their capacity to act for their neighborhood.
'In Stains, we are convinced that democracy does not stop when we vote. It must live daily, in each neighborhood, as close as possible to the residents,' recalls the mayor, Azzédine Taïbi. This conviction guides the renewal of the Resident Councils, 'designed as spaces for meeting, dialogue, and collective construction.'
The city is now structured around four sectors: North, South, Center, and West. Each sector is overseen by a neighborhood deputy mayor: Abdelfattah Messoussi for the North, Corinne Cambon for the South, Abdelkarim Zeggar for the Center, and Liliane Varilhes for the West.
Open to all who wish to get involved in local life, these councils allow residents to make their voices heard, share their concerns, and most importantly, develop concrete proposals. Each year, participants choose, with their neighborhood deputy mayor, a work theme to develop a proposal or project that meets the sector's needs.
The new organization also aims to foster collective work. Monthly workshops will bring together residents, elected officials, and, depending on the topics, municipal services and relevant partners to advance projects between plenary meetings.
Regular office hours will also be held by the neighborhood deputy mayors in each of the four sectors. This will be an opportunity for residents to interact directly with their elected official, report a difficulty, or find the right contacts for their situation.
'Because local democracy must allow us to move from observation to proposals, from proposals to solutions, and from solutions to action, we need you,' emphasizes the mayor.
The objective is clear: to make every resident an active participant in the well-being of their neighborhood. The residents of Stains are therefore invited to join their Resident Council and take part in this collective dynamic.
