Hundreds of Bordeaux residents selected at random to take part in mairie’s decisions

More than 250 Bordeaux residents and local stakeholders have been selected to take part in new citizen commissions giving them a greater say in local projects and decisions.

The eight commissions, covering the city’s 30 neighbourhoods, were officially launched at Bordeaux’s mairie on September 19.

The members are meant to meet five to six times per year to raise concerns from their neighbourhoods, help develop local projects, give their views on proposals submitted to the city’s local participatory budget, suggest initiatives and share information with other residents.

The initiative is part of Mayor Thomas Cazenave’s new approach to local democracy, which aims to give residents a more active role in their communities.

“You are going to give your opinion, learn, and teach us, because you are experts in how your neighbourhoods are used,” Alexandra Siarri, Bordeaux’s first deputy mayor, told members during the launch.

This first meeting was already used to identify issues residents want to address in their areas.

In Bordeaux maritime, for example, participants discussed solidarity and isolation, nightlife and alcohol consumption, road safety and the lack of bins in a newly-renovated garden.

In general, the idea attracted significant interest, with 2,946 applications received by the mairie, including 279 applications from local stakeholders.

In total, 252 members were selected by lottery forming the eight commissions. Each commission has 20 residents and 10 local stakeholders, while representatives from citizens’ councils in priority neighbourhoods are also associated.

Members were selected using diversity criteria including gender, age and where they live and will serve for two years.

The participants said they were attracted by the opportunity to become more involved in their local area.

Léa, a resident of Caudéran, said she was interested in “designing the city of tomorrow” and working at neighbourhood level.

“It allows me to get a foot in a system that I don't know, and it will be an opportunity to create new initiatives and take part in projects,” Pierrette, from Saint-Augustin, said.

Another participant, Nathan, from La Bastide, said the discussions had changed his thinking about the issues that were important.

“Initially, I had questions about cleanliness, safety and parking. But the discussions turned my attention towards places where people can live and meet, and towards the connections between people that are somewhat lacking,” he said.

The city has allocated one million euros a year to its local participatory budget.

“At a time when society is becoming divided, we have an interest in coming together and showing that, beyond convictions and sensitivities, we know how to work together,” Mr Cazenave said.

The eight commissions' first working sessions are scheduled for September 29 and 30.