EN
The article sums up over two-year long research program dedicated to an analysis of the legal bases for planning of development in self-governmental poviats established after 1998, instruments for the planning and poviat planning capabilities (as exemplified by seven poviats in the period March - July, 2004). Local development is becoming a subject of research within a separate discipline and planning of local development is becoming a new planning field under Polish conditions. In spite of the provisions introduced under the poviat reform of 1998, planning duties of poviats (including statutory ones) keep on growing. The author tries to answer the question whether competence and organisation potential of poviat authorities are capable of keeping pace with the phenomenon. Results of the studies upon which those responses are based suggest there is a considerable reserve maintained as regards poviat potential for planning and strategic management. Poviats may use it to make local development more dynamic in the fields they are responsible for making co-operation with municipalities closer.