Budget speech: Bocholt Social List

Dear Mr Mayor
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As an elected city councillor for the Bocholt Social List, I am in favour of a fair distribution of budget funds. I would like to make a few comments on this:

Keyword "budget deficit"
Bocholt is increasingly living off its substance: cycle paths in need of renovation, dilapidated schools, too few daycare places, too little affordable housing and public buildings that are closed and unused due to a lack of fire protection have become the norm. It is up to the council and the city to finally put an end to this mismanagement and invest more in the future of our city.

We have a budget deficit of around 30 million euros. Even if this deficit is largely homemade, the state must provide better financial support and relief for the municipalities. The federal government also has a role to play here.

Keyword "Schools"
Unfortunately, we will have to wait a few more years before pupils can be taught in permanent rooms again at the Euregio grammar school. There are still five years to go until 2028. Teaching has been taking place in containers since 2020. It cannot be ruled out that someone will spend all their time at this secondary school in a container - and never be taught in a school building. I cannot condone this and it must never happen again.

That's why our schools need to be kept up to date on a regular basis. Money must be spent on this. Because good education also requires proper and intact schools.

Keyword " city centre"
The city centre alone is and remains a case for redevelopment. Of course there are problems with purchasing power. But more visitors and more sales would be possible if the city centre were to become more attractive and lively. There are many ideas on the table. The administration and politicians are called upon to tackle the city centre problems as quickly as possible and to put this issue at the top of their list of priorities.

Funding must also be used for the city centre core instead of using this money for Kubaai or the town hall.

Keyword "Neutorplatz"
In addition to the historic town hall, Neutorplatz is also part of the city centre core. More than 1000 citizens have already signed in favour of more greenery, more trees and more benches on Neutorplatz. We will continue the signature campaign we initiated in January. We have to weigh up the interests of the Stadtsparkasse and P&C against the interests and welfare of the citizens.
interests and well-being of the citizens and climate protection. I have no sympathy for this important issue being ignored. After all, this is about our city centre, which could be significantly improved by a few small measures.

I still fondly remember when Neutorplatz was planted as part of the "City Gardens" campaign and the 800th anniversary celebrations. Visitors to the town were very enthusiastic about the campaign and were able to see how Neutorplatz could be made greener and more attractive. We will definitely be staying on top of the issue.

Keyword "Advertising campaign for town hall renovation"
The Green Party's application has resulted in the administration organising an advertising campaign for the renovation of the town hall. Even if the €15,000 requested for this is not included in the budget, additional costs and personnel resources will still be incurred. This will make the town hall renovation even more expensive.

I wonder how seriously the citizens will be taken if their criticism is now to be destroyed by an advertising campaign and everything is to be talked up. After all, the thousands of citizens' criticisms of the town hall refurbishment are justified.

Keyword "cycle paths"
I am convinced that there is no understanding among the citizens if the cycle path in the area of the textile museum on Uhlandstraße has now been renewed, but the cycle paths outside the area on Uhlandstraße remain in their old condition. There is a need for action to renew the cycle paths along the entire length of Uhlandstraße - and not just in the area of the major Kubaai project.

Unfortunately, nobody really wants to admit that the cycle paths in Bocholt as a whole need to be renovated. Instead, people are all too happy to refer to the mobility concept. But what use is it if you have a mobility concept that says nothing about it? In addition to a mobility concept, there are also many other concepts. The interesting thing is that as soon as something is demanded in terms of improvements, reference is made to the concepts. The consequence is that this creates a standstill in many areas.

Keyword "timber bridges"
Around 2.5 million euros were put on the table for the oversized steel bridge on the Kubaai site. The city of Bocholt paid just under 1 million euros of this. At the time, this was a waste of taxpayers' money. After all, pedestrians and cyclists would have been able to cross the Aasee even if the bridge had been a few sizes smaller. Wooden bridges, on the other hand, were not regularly maintained or renewed to the required extent. It was only after this issue was raised again and again that things finally started to move.

Nevertheless, some bridges have now been given a "blocking notice" again. Green spaces are obviously not as important as some prestige objects and are now falling victim to the red pencil. We are fighting back against this. Anyone who values their city and its public image must tackle this problem instead of pushing it to one side.

Keyword "Aasee Island"
I consider the unanimous resolution on Aasee Island at the last meeting of the Main and Finance Committee to be very pleasing. This means that the responsible specialised committee will now deal with this important topic. With my new motion, I have once again spoken out clearly in favour of this island being made usable again. The Green parliamentary group had also submitted a motion in this regard. Five weeks earlier, all parliamentary groups had spoken out unanimously against my motion. The necessary measures and funding now need to be put in place so that the Aasee island can be reopened to all visitors as quickly as possible.

Keyword "Affordable housing"
We urgently need more affordable housing. Pointing to the activities of Heimbau does not solve this problem. Of course we are delighted that Heimbau wants to build many new affordable flats behind the Don Bosco housing estate. We made this public at the start of the planning process. However, it is painful for the residents on Wagenfeldstrasse, who will all have to leave their homes with their families because the tower block there is to be demolished and an even larger tower block, known as Atea, is to be built on the same site. Affordable living space is being destroyed, so to speak.

From my terrace, I can see how the lights are gradually going out for the 32 families there. It's a disgrace. The new tower block with 82 residential units and commercial premises will be almost 50 metres high. It is oversized and does not fit in with the local residential structure in the east of Bocholt. With a high-rise building almost 50 metres high, I also ask myself what about safety precautions in the event of a disaster?

We should not allow ourselves to be blinded, because investments in such projects are not made out of charity, but to generate profits. Providing housing, especially affordable housing, is a municipal task. A municipal housing association makes it possible to control the whole process and create affordable housing. That is why a city-owned housing association is needed.

Keyword "Ewibo"
While Ewibo had more than 140 employees in 2021, it now only employs 79 people. As a result of the reorganisation, around 60 employees have fallen by the wayside - in just under two years. Regardless of how the employment relationships were terminated, a reconciliation of interests and social plan would have been necessary in this case. I would refer you to the legislator, in this case the Works Constitution Act.

If I am interpreting this correctly, the reorganisation measures have the effect that the 60 employees are no longer there today. After all, what else could be the reason for this? As a shareholder, the city has a social responsibility towards these employees. The loss of a job alone - and then because of the measures - always has disadvantages for the individual. This is precisely where a social plan comes in, which protects the affected employees from the economic disadvantages of a change in operations, for example by paying severance pay.

I am therefore hoping for clarification and information from the mayor as to whether appropriate measures have been agreed with the works council at Ewibo? This is not a secret matter, nor does data protection stand in the way. It would also be interesting to know how the Supervisory Board sees it?

Keyword "Public prosecutor investigations"
Bocholt is hoping and waiting for the public prosecutor's office in Bielefeld to finally make the results of the investigation public soon and bring charges of corruption and breach of trust, should the facts of the case prove to be true. As long as the investigations have not been finalised, a black cloud lies over Bocholt that is not good for our city.

Fugitives
With regard to the "Takenkamp", I am still of the opinion that there would not have been a petition for a referendum if the administrative board had disclosed the other 13 possible locations beforehand - namely at the vote in the council on 29 March 2023. This would have made it possible to spread out the "Takenkamp" site somewhat instead of accommodating all of the planned 250 refugees there.

Incidentally, this motion by the CDU parliamentary group is not a solution. Collecting data, for example on the country of origin, only exacerbates the asylum debate and is once again just fodder for right-wing propaganda. I therefore clearly reject the CDU parliamentary group's motion.

Keyword "public transport"
I no longer consider the funding for the Nordring to be up-to-date. Alternatively, I think it would be better to expand local public transport and achieve a real turnaround in transport. Restoring the train connection via Rhede in the direction of Münster is just as necessary. As soon as the revised feasibility study is available, it must be implemented quickly.

Technically, the railway in the direction of Münster can start running again in around four years. Because it is unacceptable for Bocholt to be cut off from the outside world for any longer.

Keyword "citizen's money"
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all of you here to make sure that the parliamentary groups in the Bundestag don't fall over when it comes to the citizen's allowance! It is becoming unbearable to see the level at which this discussion is being conducted. The aim is quite obvious, namely to further divide society. And to destroy the welfare state.

Hartz IV, which is now called citizen's income, and the announced increase is nothing more than an inflation adjustment, which has recently been completely inadequate. Using the current flattening inflation rate as a justification for cuts, as Mr Merz of the CDU is doing, is unobjective and completely wrong. For years, the amounts were not raised and were far below the poverty line.

And with regard to wages, it is not the case that the Citizen's Income is too high, but that the wages are too low. Therefore: Hands off the citizen's income!

Finally, I would like to thank all the employees in the administration who have contributed to the smooth running of the council and committee meetings.

Thank you very much!
Bärbel Sauer
City Councillor