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.
The President supported many ideas put forward by Public Council members during the meeting that lasted more than three hours. These ideas included proposals to establish a public organisation representing Russia’s scientific community, a national public healthcare information and consulting system, and a teachers’ development fund.