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case studies are from different socio-economic and political landscapes to the study area, the<br />

study attempts to adapt their best practices for improved service delivery purposes.<br />

3.6.1 International local and regional environmental action plans (LEAP)<br />

Kolin, a local municipality in the Czech Republic, was chosen as a model town from a<br />

selection <strong>of</strong> five municipalities (Kolin, Decin, Liberec, Vsetaty and Vratislavice).<br />

Justification for its selection was that it was a medium-sized municipality <strong>of</strong>district size, with<br />

an average pollution level (www.leap.com. 2007). As the former KwaZulu-Natal provincial<br />

seat <strong>of</strong> government, this study chooses Ulundi out <strong>of</strong>the five local municipalities within the<br />

<strong>Zululand</strong> District Municipality (ZDM) as a point <strong>of</strong> reference in this study (Refer to Figure<br />

1.1 on page 3).<br />

3.6.1.1 Arrangement <strong>of</strong>LEAP<br />

The initiator <strong>of</strong> the Kolin LEAP project was the Institute for Environmental Policy (IEP) in<br />

Prague, inspired by similar projects implemented in other countries in transition to a market<br />

economy. Cooperation with the town <strong>of</strong> Kolin and insitutions has been based on mutual trust.<br />

At the end <strong>of</strong> 1994, coalition parties forming the City Council decided to design an action<br />

programme for municipal environmental problems. This decision was based on political<br />

parties' election programmes, which included a sound and favourable environment as one <strong>of</strong><br />

the top priorities. The subject was discussed and approved by the advisory body <strong>of</strong> the<br />

municipality, the Committee for Environmental Protection, and eventually by the City<br />

Council, which allocated US$5000 from the municipal budget for the project development<br />

[www.leap.com. (2007)].<br />

3.6.1.2 Project phases<br />

The Kolin Local and Regional Environmental Action Plans (LEAP) were developed in five<br />

phases; begun in 1995 after a certain period <strong>of</strong>preparatory work and negotiations with town<br />

authorities. The project's outcome was submitted to the council by the end <strong>of</strong> 1996. A<br />

system <strong>of</strong> cooperation between the town' s government and its citizens was tested and<br />

necessary changes made during 1997. Implementation <strong>of</strong>action plans for some priorities was<br />

executed for the period 1997-1998.<br />

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