Digital Objection Procedures under the General Administrative Law Act in Tilburg
The General Administrative Law Act (Awb) promotes the digitalisation of objection procedures through Article 3:14a and the Digital Decision-Making Act. In Tilburg, the municipality's objection committees are adapting by conducting online hearings, for example, in decisions regarding parking permits or construction approvals in the Spoorzone.
Advantages and Requirements in Tilburg
- Accessibility: Submissions can be made via the Message Box of MijnGemeenteTilburg or by email to bezwaar@tilburg.nl.
- Security: Authentication is required using DigiD, mandatory for residents of Tilburg.
- Equality: The option for an in-person hearing at the city hall on Stadhuisplein remains available.
Practical Challenges in Tilburg
Video hearings via the Tilburg portal save time for civil servants and citizens but require stable internet connections, particularly in neighbourhoods such as Oud-Zuid. Case law confirms that digital procedures are equivalent provided the duty to hear, as stipulated in Article 3:2 of the Awb, is respected. The municipality of Tilburg is at the forefront of the transition to fully digital procedures, with completion planned for 2025, in alignment with provincial initiatives in North Brabant.
This modernisation enhances administrative law in Tilburg and increases efficiency for local matters such as waste levies and permits.