Opening the meeting, Mr Putin said that the Public Council had proven its usefulness and had earned well-deserved authority.
The President called on the Council to help resolve problems in the housing sector, noting in particular the need for public control over the spending of funds allocated to housing reconstruction and resettling people from dilapidated housing.
Mr Putin said that civil society organisations should play a greater role in carrying out the national projects.
Secretary of the Public Council Yevgeny Velikhov gave a report on the Council’s activities. The Council will develop a dialogue with similar bodies abroad and has already joined the association of non-English-speaking public organisations, Mr Velikhov said. Mr Putin expressed support for Mr Velikhov’s proposal to establish a public organisation representing Russia’s scientific community.
Vyacheslav Glazychev, chairman of the Public Council’s Commission for Regional Development and Local Self-Government, proposed holding a session of the State Council to discuss the division of powers between the federal, regional and municipal authorities.
Leo Bokeria, a member of the Public Council, proposed establishing a national public healthcare information and consulting system.
Yaroslav Kuzminov, rector of the Higher School of Economics and chairman of the Council’s Commission for National Intellectual Potential, spoke in support of setting up a teachers’ development fund and a scholarship system to support talent. He also proposed reviving the institution of children’s creativity centres.
The meeting, which lasted around three hours, concluded with Mr Putin expressing his satisfaction with the Council’s work. The Council not only acts as a filter for legislative decisions but has also proved its worth as a serious expert-opinion body, Mr Putin said.