Law No 1 of 1990 on the Establishment of the Central Municipal Council

Law No 1 of 1990 on the Establishment of the Central Municipal Council 1 / 1990

Number of Articles: 19

Table of Content

Part 1: Formation of the Council and its Duties, and Regulation of its Meetings and Functions (1-11)

Chapter One: Formation of the Council (1-7)

Chapter Two: Powers of the Central Council (8-8)

Chapter Three: Meetings of the Central Council and its System of Operation (9-11)

Part 2: Executive Administration and General Secretariat of the Council (12-15)

Part 3: General Provisions (16-19)

We, Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Deputy Emir of Qatar,
Having perused the Amended Provisional Constitution, in particular Articles 22, 23, 34, and 51 thereof;
Emiri Order No. 6 of 1989 concerning the appointment of a Deputy Emir,
Law No. 2 of 1962 regulating the general fiscal policy in Qatar,
Law No. 11 of 1963 regulating the municipality of Doha, as amended,
The Civil Public Posts Law promulgated by Law No. 9 of 1967, as amended,
Law No. 5 of 1970 specifying the powers of ministers and functions of the ministries and other government agencies, as amended,
Law No. 10 of 1970 Identifying the Authority which Conducts Recruitment and Removal from Public Office,
Law No. 14 of 1972 on the establishment of the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and the Ministry of Information,
Decree-Law No. 24 of 1972 defining the functions of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs,
Law No. 19 of 1972 concerning the establishment of new municipalities,
The proposal of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture,
The bill presented by the Council of Ministers, and
Having consulted the Shura Council,
Hereby promulgate the following law:

Part 1: Formation of the Council and its Duties, and Regulation of its Meetings and Functions

Chapter One: Formation of the Council

Article 1

A central municipal council shall be created for the cities, towns and regions of the State of Qatar. It shall be called the “Central Municipal Council.” It shall have an executive administration and general secretariat that shall be adequately staffed. Its headquarters shall be Doha.

2-- This Council shall replace municipal councils currently existing. It shall carry out its duties in the manner specified in this Law. It shall operate under the supervision and control of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.

Article 2

(a) The Council shall consist of twenty one Qatari members representing the various cities, towns and regions. They shall be appointed by a decree, based upon the proposal of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
(b) The following is a requirement in a member of the Central Municipal Council:
1- His original nationality should be the nationality of the State of Qatar.
2- He should not be younger than twenty four years of age when appointed.
3 - He should be fluent in reading and writing.
4 - His competence and honesty should be attested to.
5 - A judgment should not have been passed against him in relation to a crime involving the breach of morality, unless three full years have lapsed since the judgment was issued or the sentence was carried out.

Article 3

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture shall preside over the Council. He shall have a deputy chosen by members of the Council from amongst them in its first meeting. He shall replace the Chairman in all his powers in his absence or if his post becomes vacant for any reason whatsoever.

Article 4

(a) A General Secretary for the Council shall be appointed by a resolution of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
(b) The directors of the various municipalities, cities, towns and regions and their deputies if required shall be appointed by the same preceding method.
In all instances these resolutions shall only take final effect after they are approved by the Cabinet.

Article 5

The term of membership is three years. A member whose term has expired may be re-appointed.

Article 6

The members of the Council shall receive a token remuneration determined by a decree.

Article 7

Membership status of members of the Central Council shall cease for any of the following reasons:
(a) Death
(b) Dismissal, if it is established that one of the members lacks the confidence or respect required for membership of the Council or breached the duties of membership. The dismissal shall take place by a decree after obtaining the approval of the Council.
(c) Resignation submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Council. It shall be deemed final from the time of the Council's acceptance thereof.
(d) Dissolution of the Council.

Chapter Two: Powers of the Central Council

Article 8

The Council shall aim to work with the means available for the country's progress in the field of Municipal Affairs. In order to achieve its objectives, it may exercise the following powers, functions and responsibilities in particular:
Firstly - Monitor the implementation of laws, resolutions and regulations related to the powers and functions of the Ministry of Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and the Council, including the laws, resolutions and regulations related to the affairs of the regulation of buildings, land planning, roads, commercial, industrial and public premises, and other regulations that provide the granting to the Central Council the authority to monitor implementation.

Secondly - Research any aspect of the planning, programming, economic, social, financial and administrative aspects of municipal affairs, in particular the following:
1. Study the needs and proposals submitted by the members of the Council on any fundamental matter within the areas of municipal and agricultural affairs.
2. Provide recommendations with respect to the issuance of laws or take any actions or measures the Council deems necessary or beneficial to public interest.
3. Request any details, studies, reports or proposals relating to the departments of the Ministry of Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, for consideration and to give an opinion thereon.
4. Investigate petitions and collective complaints related to municipal affairs sent by citizens to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture. The Council may request from the responsible authorities in the Ministry and other relevant governmental agencies the details necessary to satisfy the elements of the investigation.
5. Monitor the implementation of laws and regulations related to food intended for human consumption.
6. Ratify the creation, maintenance and monitoring of public parks.
7. Monitor the implementation of laws and regulations related to the cleaning of streets and roads and the collection and disposal of waste and dirt.
8. Supervise the public transport of passengers.
9. Monitor the implementation of the laws for public business licenses, hotels, entertainment venues, parks, small businesses and hawkers.
10. Monitor the implementation of laws for advertising licenses and for the prevention of public nuisance.
11. Monitor the regulations for the administration of cemeteries and burial and determine their locations.
12. Propose names for towns, villages, neighborhoods, streets, squares, markets, public gardens and parks.
13. Propose the imposition of taxes, fees and local revenue.
14. Combat begging, manage nursing homes and assist the poor.
15. Provide relief for those afflicted by fires and natural disasters.
16. Propose adequate steps to combat and prevent fires.
17. Provide proposals on the Council's annual budget.
18. Monitor the regulations related to commercial markets and premises and the regulation thereof.
19. Supervise the collection of revenues related to the Ministry and the Council.
20. Regulate the necessary rules and conditions for the housing of animals in populated shelters and implement the law related to neglected animals - Law No. 9 of 1974.
21. Public relations and outreach to citizens, and to respond to complaints from citizens and institutions related to municipal affairs and agriculture.
22. Monitor the implementation of regulations and procedures related to municipal affairs.
23. Sign purchase and sale contracts permitted in the budget or by authorization of the Minister.
24. Prepare the draft internal bylaw of the Council.
25. Consider and express an opinion on the proposals submitted to the Council by the Ministry or other government agencies on any municipal matter and submit the same to the Minister.
26. Prepare the draft budget of the Council for the new financial year, as well as the draft final accounts for the financial year ended.
27. Any other powers, duties or responsibilities granted by the Minister to the Council within the limits of the duties and powers prescribed for it.

Chapter Three: Meetings of the Central Council and its System of Operation

(a) The Council shall convene an ordinary meeting monthly at the invitation of its Chairman. The Chairman may call the Council to an extraordinary meeting whenever he deems fit or at least five members request for such a meeting.

Invitation to the meeting shall be in writing, at least one week before the appointed time.

(b) A member shall be deemed to have resigned if he fails to attend without an acceptable excuse three consecutive sessions.

(c) The Secretary of the Council shall prepare the agenda and submit it to the Chairman for approval. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the sessions and shall not take part in the voting.

(d) The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture shall call for the convening of the first meeting of the Central Municipal Council within a period not longer than sixty days from the date the decree of appointment of the members is published.

(e) The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture shall call for a meeting whenever he deems necessary and whenever it is requested in writing by the Deputy Chairman or at least five members.

Article 10

(a) The deliberations of the Council shall only be valid if the meeting is attended by more than half of its members. If this number is not attained the meeting shall be postponed for at least two days and at most eight days.
(b) The directors of the departments, municipalities, cities, towns and regions may attend meetings of the Counciland participate in the discussion. They shall not have a counted vote in the adoption of resolutions and recommendations. They shall also not be included in calculating the attendance quorum.
(c) The Council shall issue its resolutions and recommendations by a majority vote of the members present, and in the case of an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting or second vote.

Article 11

The Council shall convene its meetings at its headquarters in Doha. It may meet in any other city in the State, if it deems that necessary.

Part 2: Executive Administration and General Secretariat of the Council

Article 12

The General Secretary of the Council shall supervise all operations and prepare its internal, administrative and financial bylaws. These bylaws shall only take effect after their approval by the Council and endorsement by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.

Article 13

The General Secretary of the Central Municipal Council shall supervise all staff and workers of the Council and its assets. He shall be responsible for implementing the resolutions and recommendations of the Council after its endorsement by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.

Article 14

(a) The Chairman of the Council may entrust some of his administrative duties to the General Secretary and the directors of the other cities, towns and regions.

(b) The Council may form committees from amongst its members and others to research one or more of the matters submitted to it.

Article 15

The General Secretariat shall prepare one report quarterly and another annually on the activities of the Central Council.

Part 3: General Provisions

Article 16

The Central Council may be dissolved, by a resolution of the Cabinet, based on the proposal of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture if he deems that the higher interests of the country requires the same.

Article 17

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture shall issue the bylaws and resolutions necessary for the implementation of this Law in accordance with its provisions and to realize its objectives.

Article 18

Any provision that contradicts the provisions of this law shall be repealed.

Article 19

All relevant authorities, each within its own jurisdiction, shall implement this law which shall be effective after two months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.