Werder (Havel): Monthly Review February 2026 – Budget, Planning and Culture

The Key Topics of the Month

• The 2026 Budget was discussed in several committees and finally passed with amendments in the City Council.
• The Zoning Plan 078/25 "Southern Scheunhornweg" was postponed due to insufficient preparation.
• In the City Council, several decisions were made regarding culture, social affairs and sports.
• The Committee for Finance and Economy approved several land transactions and voted on the dog tax ordinance.
• The Land Use Plan 2020 and 2040 were approved in urban development.

2026 Budget: Majority Approval Despite Controversial Discussions

The city budget of Werder (Havel) for the year 2026 was a central topic for all municipal committees in February 2026. In several local advisory councils such as Bliesendorf, Derwitz, Glindow, Kemnitz, Petzow, Phöben, Plötzin and Töplitz, the budget proposal BSVV/0334/26 was noted or adopted. In the City Council, the budget was finally passed with amendments with 25 approvals, 4 rejections and 2 abstentions.

The voting results show clear differences in opinion, especially on individual points such as the decision on 4. a), which was rejected by a majority with 10 approvals, 19 rejections and 2 abstentions. In contrast, the decision on 4. b) was passed with 29 approvals and 2 abstentions. The draft was prepared under the leadership of Joanna Lappe from Department 2, and legal frameworks such as the Municipal Code (GemO) and the Municipal Finance Ordinance (GemHVO) were used as procedural guidelines.

Urban Development: Land Use Plans 2020 and 2040 Approved

The Committee for Urban Development and Infrastructure met on 18 February 2026 and approved the Land Use Plan 2020 and the Land Use Plan 2040 unchanged. The Land Use Plan 2020 was passed with approvals from 6 committee members and 3 abstentions, and the Land Use Plan 2040 with 5 approvals and 4 abstentions.

Another important topic was the Zoning Plan 078/25 "Southern Scheunhornweg", which was postponed due to the lack of preparation for public and official participation as required by § 3 Abs. 1 BauGB. This shows that the city of Werder (Havel) values transparency and participation in urban development projects.

Culture and Social Affairs: Decisions for the Future

In the Committee for Social Affairs, Education, Culture, Sports and Tourism, several important decisions were made. The appointment of members of the Children and Youth Council was approved unanimously. Likewise, the proposal by the FREIE WÄHLER faction to use the drinking water facility in Glindow as an Apple Museum was approved for review and passed unanimously.

In contrast, the proposal by the StadtMitGestalter faction to install a washing machine in the emergency shelter was rejected with 1 approval, 5 rejections and 1 abstention. Another proposal for advertising on dog toilets was also rejected with 2 approvals and 5 rejections. Positively, the proposal by the Freie Wähler faction for barrier-free access to the sports field in Glindow was approved unanimously.

Land Transactions and Financial Policy

In the Committee for Finance and Economy, several land transactions were approved. The sale of the property in Gemarkung Alt-Töplitz, Flur 1, Flurstück 259/35 was approved unanimously. Likewise, the sale of the property in Gemarkung Bliesendorf, Flur 10, Flurstück 206 was approved with 6 approvals, 3 rejections and 0 abstentions.

The dog tax ordinance, however, was rejected with 3 approvals, 4 rejections and 2 abstentions, showing that financial policy in the city continues to be controversial. Likewise, the ordinance on the release of retail opening on Sundays and public holidays in 2026 was unanimously recommended with 8 approvals, 1 rejection and 0 abstentions.

Overview: Urban Development and Budget in Focus

The February sessions show that the city of Werder (Havel) is currently undergoing significant change. The 2026 budget is a central topic, serving both as a financial framework and as an expression of municipal priorities. At the same time, transparency and participation are emphasized in urban development projects such as Zoning Plan 078/25. In cultural and social policy, it becomes clear that the city is trying to act in a citizen-oriented manner – although not all proposals receive approval.

Conclusion and Outlook

February 2026 was a month of decisions in Werder (Havel). The 2026 budget was passed, urban development projects were prepared, and new impulses were sought in cultural policy. The coming months will show how the approved measures are implemented and what impact they have on the lives of citizens. For the city, it is clear: transparency, participation and citizen-oriented action remain central pillars of municipal policy.