Evaluating the role and position of the Islamic Council of Cities in the urban planning system of Iran

After several decades of public participation becoming one of the important principles of planning discourse, and the emergence of local and popular institutions such as the city council in the political and social structure of the country, the real role and position of this institution in the urban planning system It has not been determined and is facing many questions and ambiguities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the role and position of this institution in the urban planning system. Using content analysis of current laws and regulations and the results of surveys of citizens, city council members and academics with the method of qualitative and content analysis and interpretation of the findings, the necessary analysis was done and finally showed the results of the research; Despite the definition of the role and position of various and independent of the three powers (decision-making, supervisory, legislative, facilitator, etc.) for the city council institution by current laws, there are not enough legal requirements for the decisions of this institution and also the process of preparation and The approval of the plans has followed a centralist structure and no effective and decisive position has been defined for the local institution of the city council. Factors such as; Limited legal powers, lack of urban planning knowledge of council members, etc. have weakened the position of this institution in the urban planning system.