The number of files processed by the Urban Agency of Khénifra (AUKH) in 2011 amounted to 3,056 compared to 1,989 files in 2010, an increase of 54%, indicates the annual report of this establishment.

This increase is explained in particular by the efforts and the approach adopted by the agency in terms of urban management, based on the simplification of procedures, flexibility, the reduction of processing times and the generalisation of the one-stop shop at the level of the two provinces of Khénifra and Midelt, which fall under the territorial jurisdiction of the agency, the same source points out.

Three one-stop shops were created in 2011, including two in the province of Midelt and one in the city of Mrirt (Khénifra province), bringing to four the total number of counters set up by the establishment, the document specifies, stressing that this procedure of generalising the one-stop shop has allowed for the reduction of processing times to one day for small projects and to two weeks for large projects.

The report, of which the MAP received a copy, specifies that 2,483 projects out of all the files processed were validated by the agency, for a total investment of 782 million dirhams (MDH), compared to 418 MDH the previous year (1,037 projects).

According to the same source, 98.1% of the files examined concern small projects (2,998 files), which reflects the socio-economic level of the populations and the nature of investments in the two provinces of Khénifra and Midelt, while the majority of large projects favourably processed relate to housing estates intended for economic housing.

The distribution of files processed according to their nature highlights the pre-eminence of economic housing projects with 2,944 files (96.33%), followed by those relating to the construction of villas (37 files), commerce (20 files), the creation of housing estates (16), public facilities (11), tourism (04) and other projects (24).

According to the annual report, some 2,289 files were processed by the agency at the level of the Khénifra province, while the rest (767 projects) concerned the Midelt province.

Despite the efforts made by the AUKH, the various services concerned and the local authorities to promote the sector through the generalisation of coverage in urban planning documents, the development of sectoral studies and the reduction of deadlines, while adopting the principles of flexibility and simplification of procedures, the rural environment remains far from the expected level of territorial competitiveness and is overtaken by the urban momentum in urban areas, the document stresses.

Furthermore, the number of files processed in 2011 within the framework of the regional derogation commission reached 11 projects, 10 of which received a favourable opinion from the commission for a total investment volume estimated at 851 MDH, the same source notes.

It should be recalled that the AUKH succeeded this year in obtaining the ISO 9001 version 2008 quality certificate. It is thus the fifth agency at the national level to obtain this distinction after those of Rabat-Salé, Marrakech, Taza and Tangier, and the first establishment among those created after 2004 to obtain this certification, which constitutes a guarantee of the quality of services provided by the establishment for the user of this essential public service.

The agency also recently held its fourth board of directors (CA) under the chairmanship of the Minister of Housing, Urban Planning and City Policy, Nabil Benabdellah.

During this meeting, the board members unanimously adopted the action plan of this establishment for the 2012-2014 period and the minutes of the previous session, and approved the moral and financial reports of the agency for the 2011 financial year.