The Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has published a report on revitalization in 17 cities, including Bolesławiec. The audit findings are not favorable. Below are several examples published by NIK in the document.

The committee did practically very little

In our city, between 2017 and 2020, the Revitalization Committee was not fully involved in the revitalization process. Apart from three meetings, it did not perform any revitalization-related tasks from the day it was appointed. Consequently, the participation of stakeholders in the committee’s work was also limited.

Projects outside the revitalization area

In Bolesławiec, projects located outside the revitalization area were included without justification as to why they should be included in the Municipal Revitalization Program (GPR). This was contrary to Article 15(3) of the Revitalization Act, which states that revitalization projects included in a municipal revitalization program could also be implemented outside the revitalization area if this resulted from their specific nature.

Selective investments focused on quick results

Projects implemented under the GPR mainly involved selective investments focused solely on quickly improving the aesthetics of public spaces. They concentrated on renovation and modernization works that did not result in structural changes in the revitalization area. Social projects were implemented only to a marginal extent. No justification was provided for revitalization activities located outside this area to show that they served the objectives arising from the GPR. The tasks carried out as part of the E-aktywni mieszkańcy Miasta Bolesławiec project were not focused on solving the problems of the revitalization area. Consequently, the activities undertaken so far did not lead to the implementation of most of the projects included in the GPR, including those for which financing solely from own funds had been indicated. Between 2017 and 2020 (until the end of September), only five of the 16 projects planned for 2017–2019 and three of the 24 projects scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 were completed. In addition, the material scope of four of them was not fully implemented.

Irregularities in the tender procedure

In Bolesławiec, irregularities were found in the public procurement procedures carried out during the implementation of one of the revitalization projects. They concerned the unreliable preparation of the description of the subject of the contract in a procedure conducted under an open tender; making an amendment to the contract despite the absence of circumstances that could not have been foreseen when it was concluded; commissioning part of the task under an additional contract even though, according to the design drawing, these elements constituted work commissioned under the basic contract; and unjustifiably reimbursing the contractor for the costs of entering the construction site. In principle, expenditure on revitalization projects was recorded in accordance with the rules arising from the applicable regulations. Separate accounting records were maintained for funds originating from the state budget and the European Union. In Bolesławiec, the records of funds for one project that received co-financing from the Local Government Roads Fund were maintained without separating the types and amounts of expenditure incurred from the individual sources of financing.

More information is available in the NIK report: www.nik.gov.pl/aktualnosci/programy-rewitalizacji.html

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