Decision-making in HSL

General Meeting

The highest decision-making body of HSL is the General Meeting to which each member municipality elects its representatives. The General Meeting convenes at least twice a year. The General Meeting approves the financial statements of the joint local authority not later than by the end of May annually and approves the budget and financial plan by the end of March annually. The voting rights are divided according to the core capital ratio of the member municipalities. One municipality can hold a maximum of 50 per cent of the votes.  In 2009, Helsinki held 50 per cent of the votes, Espoo 23.4 per cent, Vantaa 19 per cent, Kirkkonummi 3.5 per cent, Kerava 3.3 per cent and Kauniainen 0.8 per cent. The voting rights are redetermined annually. 

Executive Board

The Executive Board of HSL protects the interests of the joint local authority, supervises its management and establishes its operational principles. The Executive Board also approves the fares and tariffs, deter-mines the quantity and quality of public transport services provided, makes decisions on the services to be procured and approves service contracts. 

The Chairperson of the Executive Board, its Deputy Chairperson as well as Board members are elected by the General Meeting. The term of office of the Executive Board is the municipal electoral period, i.e. four years. The first term of office will, however, run until the end of 2012. The Executive Board of HSL con-sists of 14 members: Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and 12 other members.They all have personal deputies. 

The composition of the Executive Board is determined by the core capital ratio of the member municipalities. In 2009-2010, the Board comprises seven members and deputies from Helsinki, three members and deputies from Espoo, three members and two deputies from Vantaa, one member and one deputy from Kerava and Kirkkonummi, and one deputy member from Kauniainen. The deputies always have the right of attendance and right of speech if they are the sole representatives of their municipalities in the Board meetings. 

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee consists of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and three other members elected by the General Meeting. Each member has a personal deputy. The tasks and duties of the Committee are set out in the Local Government Act and determined in the administrative rules of HSL.