A trilateral cooperation agreement was signed between the administration, the Duma, and the public organization Women's Council

In Irkutsk, an agreement on cooperation was signed between the city administration, the Duma, and the women’s movement Zhensovet. The document provides for joint events, working groups, consultations and information exchange, and Mayor Dmitry Berdnikov called it a new stage in relations with one of the city’s most respected public organizations. After signing the agreement, the city head answered residents questions. They discussed urban improvement, sports infrastructure, illegal construction and administrative reform. All appeals were taken under control, and residents were urged to take a more active part in solving local problems together with deputies and relevant committees.

The initiator of the Agreement on Interaction and Cooperation was the Irkutsk Public City Women’s Movement “Zhensovet.”
On May 25, at a meeting with the city mayor, representatives of “Zhensovet” expressed their wish to conclude a cooperation agreement.
On July 15, the Agreement was signed by Dmitry Berdnikov, Deputy Chairman of the Irkutsk City Duma Alexander Khankhalaev, and the chairwoman of the Irkutsk Public City Women’s Movement “Zhensovet,” Lidiya Pchela. The document was signed in the presence of representatives of the primary organizations of “Zhensovet.”
The Agreement provides for the exchange of methodological and analytical information between the parties, the preparation and holding of joint events, the creation of joint working groups, and the holding of joint meetings, consultations, and seminars.
As the city head said, interaction between the city authorities and “Zhensovet” has always been built on the principles of mutual respect and support. Over nearly forty years of activity, “Zhensovet” has established itself as one of the most respected public organizations, with a huge number of good deeds to its credit.
“The cooperation agreement is a qualitatively new stage in the relations between the administration of Irkutsk, the City Duma, and the public organization ‘Zhensovet.’ The document implies that now all structural divisions of the mayor’s office and the deputy corps are taking on serious responsibility in providing effective assistance to the organization. The agreement once again emphasizes that the administration, the Duma, and ‘Zhensovet’ are one whole, and this is what allows our residents to feel more protected, to feel that the authorities care about them, relying on the support of such a powerful public organization,” said Dmitry Berdnikov.
After signing the Agreement, the city head answered questions from Irkutsk residents. The deputy mayors present at the meeting immediately recorded the appeals and commented on problem situations. The questions asked to Dmitry Berdnikov concerned the improvement of specific neighborhoods, the development of accessible sports infrastructure, illegal construction, etc. The mayor instructed the heads of the relevant departments of the administration to take all pressing issues under control.
One of the questions concerned the restructuring of the administration of the city of Irkutsk, involving the enlargement of districts. The city head and Deputy Mayor – Head of the Administration of the City of Irkutsk Yulia Efimova assured those gathered that the reform would affect only the structure of the city administration. To optimize expenses, eliminate duplicate functions, and improve efficiency, it is planned to merge the Leninsky and Sverdlovsky district administration committees into the Left Bank committee, and the Pravoberezhny and Oktyabrsky committees into the Pravoberezhny one. Yulia Efimova emphasized that the administrative division of the city into four districts remains unchanged, but the heads of the enlarged district committees will be granted the status of first deputy mayors and broader powers.
In conclusion of the meeting, the city head said:
“Our dear, respected women, I am always glad to meet with you. This allows me to keep my finger on the pulse and helps me adjust the work of the mayor’s office. I will say openly and honestly — it is impossible to fulfill all your requests at once, all at the same moment. But step by step, systematically, we will solve everything. It is important that you also do not limit yourselves to what you told the mayor, to what has been weighing on you. You can also do a great deal to solve your problems. Interact with the deputy for your district, contact the head of your district, reach out to the relevant committees. Many issues can be resolved by the residents themselves. We look forward to your interesting initiatives and effective help.”