3.4. Estonia’s new planning system within the framework of new administrative structure
In 1989, in these collective/state farm settlements lived more than 60% of rural population.
Their share was gradually growing during previous decades, but started heavylt decline
during the 1990’s. As a majority of these settlements have one and only employer - a state
or collective farm - they were greatly affected by economic decline of the dominant
enterprise(s).
In Estonia’s rural areas, extremely rapid restructuring, the processes of collective
farm disintegration (destruction), took place since the end of the 1980s. The primary sector
lost 80% jobs during the 1990s (Eamets et al. 1999), and most local centres were not able
to preserve a critical “weight” to be attractive for new small entrepreneurship. This led to a
new migration to the centres, rising social exclusion and extra social costs.
Several schoolhouses, kindergartens, cultural houses and the like, constructed during
the 1970s and 1980s, are partly or entirely out of use because of low demand and high
operation costs. On the other hand, these facilities would need remarkable investments to be
renovated and upgraded.
However, some municipalities, especially central towns at the regional and sub-
regional level, are building new CI, and many of them are trying to do so, without
considering already existing regional overcapacity. Quite often, the reasons are political.
And definitely the lack of long-term planning and strategic thinking: analysis, calculations
and collaborative action. Despite a “production” of all kinds of strategies and development
documents on the national and county levels - these papers remain usually on the shelf and
do not approach community level in real terms.
County government are responsible for preparation of county plans, supervision of
the local governments planning activities, and participate together with other institutions in
the preparation of national planning guidelines. However, land use and development plans
elaborated on the County level do not count much, because of no authority and budget for
development. County governor is appointed by the national government and has limited
number mainly controlling functions. There are no county councils operating any more.
Extensive centralisation started when the regional councils were dismissed in 1994.
Only a minority of rural communities have figured out their own comprehensive
(strategic development and land use) plans. There is no capacity for that task as far as
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