The MRDH is divided in two decision-making bodies: the AB (Algemeen Bestuur - General Board) and the DB (Dagelijks Bestuur - Daily Board). Of these two decision-making bodies, the AB is the highest decision-making body. Their stated goal is to extend the power of municipalities across municipal borders through transparent and democratically legitimized means. The DB is primarily about agenda-setting and as such, it does have a role in the decision-making process of the MRDH. Influence in decision-making is exercised through the creation of the agenda, not in the substance of policies. The MRDH works in two policy
Figure 3.1: Map of the 23 municipalities of the MRDH
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fields: public transport and economic development. Every policy field has a BC (Bestu- urscommissie - Governing Committee) and an AC (Adviescommissie - Advice Committee). In the following subsections, this organisational structure will be discussed.
3.4.1
Daily Board
The Daily Board currently consists of six members: five members are appointed by the AB for the period 2015-2016, the last member is the secretary general of the MRDH. Every member of the DB has one vote. As mentioned, the DB has the primary job to function as the agenda committee to the AB. Every member of the DB has one vote. The DB gathers
Table 3.1: Details of connected municipalities [39]
Municipality Inhabitants Number of Votes
Albrandswaard 24.985 4 Barendrecht 47.824 5 Brielle 16.653 2 Capelle aan den IJssel 66.534 7 Delft 101.053 9 Den Haag 520.704 13 Hellevoetsluis 38.687 5 Krimpen aan den IJssel 29.045 4 Lansingerland 59.213 5 Leidschendam-Voorburg 74.222 7 Maassluis 32.341 4 Midden Delfland 18.880 2 Nissewaard 85.430 7 Pijnacker-Nootdorp 52.026 5 Ridderkerk 45.135 5 Rijswijk 49.671 5 Rotterdam 631.155 15 Schiedam 77.155 7 Vlaardingen 71.852 7 Wassenaar 25.931 4 Westland 104.844 9 Westvoorne 14.188 2 Zoetermeer 124.399 9
four to five times every year. Meetings of the DB are private, although all decisions made can be found online on the website of the MRDH. The DB is part of the formal decision-making process of the MRDH, but only through its agenda-setting responsibility.
3.4.2
General Board
The AB consists of 28 members, of which 23 are appointed by the municipal councils of participating municipalities. Two spots are reserved for the mayors of Rotterdam and The Hague. Two spots are reserved for aldermen of the municipalities of Rotterdam and The Hague, specifically for the portfolios of traffic and transport. Finally, a spot is reserved for the secretary-general. In the 2015-2016 period, Mr Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam, presides the AB, Mr van Aartsen, mayor The Hague, is the vice-president of the AB. These roles are inverted every year. The AB gathers four to five times every year. Decisions are made according to a majority of the available votes. All votes are distributed over the members of the AB, taking into account the municipality which the member represents. More information about the distribution of votes can be found in Table3.1. These meetings have a public character and as such, they can be visited by the interested. The agenda and minutes of these meetings are also public and are publicised on the website of the MRDH and sent to the interested via a newsletter.
The AB has the authority to commission the introduction of BC‘s, and are able to delegate responsibility from either the AB or the DB to these committees. The AB also has the authority to install permanent advice committees to either the AB, DB or the president. On December 24, 2014, two permanent advice committees and two governing committees were installed, two committees each for their economic development (abbreviated as EV) and public transportation (abbreviated as VA) policy pillar.
3.4.3
Governing Committees
The MRDH has two BC‘s, one for the policy pillars of EV and VA, which are appointed by the AB. Although the substance of the committees differs based on the policy issue at hand, the organisational structure remains the same. However, the responsibilities regarding their respective policy field does differ, which is further discussed in Subsections 3.4.3.1
and 3.4.3.2. Both BC‘s have 23 members, one member of every participating municipality. Members of the BC‘s are the aldermen which are responsible for traffic and transport or economic development in their home municipality. BC‘s have an important role in the creation of metropolitan policies and work closely together with the AC‘s.
3.4.3.1 Governing Committee Public Transportation
The BC VA concerns itself with the development and realisation of public transportation policies within the the metropolitan region in which the MRDH operates. The BC VA is responsible for the execution of daily public transportation matters. Out of the 23 members of the BC, one member is appointed as owner of the portfolio Finance, for the period 2015- 2016, responsible for the budget. If necessary, the BC VA can appoint ambassadors for a specific policy issue. The BC VA assembles at least ten times every year, partially open for public and partially closed to the public. Only the agenda and minutes of open meetings are publicised through the MRDH website and sent to the interested via a newsletter.
3.4.3.2 Governing Committee Economic Development
The BC EV has been tasked by the AB to work on the economic development of the metropolitan area. Included in its scope is the development and implementation of policy matters. The BC EV has the following executive powers:
• The preparation of the agenda, which then has to be officially determined by the AB.
• To determine the yearly program for economic matters.
• Formulating subsidy policy to stimulate the establishment of business in the MRDH.
• Gathering advice from established professionals on relevant policy matters.
• Setting up platforms and other consultation mechanisms to ensure the participation of (non-MRDH) actors to create relevant policies.
The BC EV assembles at least four times every year. Meetings have both an open and a closed component. The agenda and minutes of the open component are made accessible through the website of the MRDH and sent to the interested via a newsletter.
3.4.4
Advice Committees
Every BC has an AC: AC VA and AC EV. Apart from a different policy issue, there are no differences in the organisation of the AC‘s. Every AC has 46 members, including two municipal councillors from every participating municipality. AC‘s gather at least as often as the AB. Meetings are public and are announced online via the website of the MRDH. The agenda and minutes of meetings can also be found online via the website of the MRDH. AC‘s are put into place by the AB and is able to advise the AB on their respective policy area. The capacity of members of the AC‘s has the following characteristics:
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• Giving advice concerning a policy decision made through the municipal opinion-procedure (in Dutch: zienswijzenprocedure) to relevant representative bodies, up to the provin- cial council.
• Advising based on a request from a BC.
• Advising without a request.
The central issue at the heart of the first point is the municipal opinion-procedure. Munici- palities through their municipal councils are asked to provide their opinion of a policy issue, which is then presented to the MRDH. The delegated municipal councillors are able to voice the opinion of their municipal council through meetings of their respective AC.