The Chamber approved a proposal aimed at speeding up the work of conservationists

Prague - The Chamber of Deputies today smoothly approved an amendment aimed at speeding up the operations of the National Heritage Institute within building proceedings. 157 out of 165 present voted for the proposal from the Karlovy Vary Region. It will now be reviewed by the Senate.
    The amendment to the law on state heritage care prescribes that heritage professionals should express their opinions within 20 working days from the receipt of the application. Currently, there is no deadline obliging them to do so. If the institute does not provide a written opinion within 20 days, the relevant administrative body could decide even without it, as stated in the proposal. The lower house included an exception in the original text that would allow extending the deadline by an additional ten days in particularly serious cases.
    According to the authors, the amendment aims to ensure that applicants for opinions on the restoration of cultural monuments or objects in heritage-protected areas receive a prompt resolution of their requests. "Timely opinions from state heritage care have the greatest impact on compliance with deadlines in administrative proceedings. Because they are often submitted late, the region must extend deadlines for municipalities with extended competencies to process applications in many cases," previously stated Andrea Bocková, spokesperson for the Karlovy Vary Region.

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> The Karlovy Vary Region wants to change the law, heritage professionals should be faster [19.12.2006]