Governance and Administration in Hamm: Audits, Reforms, and Digital Future

Audits and Reforms in Focus: How Hamm is Adjusting its Administration

In February 2026, the city administration of Hamm was undergoing an intensive process of self-reflection and reform. Following a comprehensive audit by the NRW Municipal Audit Office (gpaNRW) and the subsequent public discussion in the Audit Committee, numerous topics came to the forefront: from financial planning to mobility management and digitalization strategy. These developments show how Hamm is adapting its governance structures to current challenges.

The gpaNRW Audit: A Balance Sheet with Recommendations

The cross-municipal audit by gpaNRW, which took place from November 2023 to March 2025, covered nine audit areas – including finances, mobility management, IT strategy, climate protection, and crisis management. The results were presented to the Audit Committee on February 25, 2026. The committee unanimously approved a statement and tasked the administration with incorporating the proposals into the next budget planning.

Particularly critical assessments were made regarding aspects of credit management and asset management. gpaNRW recommended revising existing regulations and establishing a financing policy. It was also found that a uniform implementation of cost-benefit analyses for construction projects is not yet guaranteed. Delays in investments – due to staff shortages and rising costs – were identified as a structural problem.

Mobility and Funding: Structural Problems and Solutions

In the area of mobility, the audit showed that although Hamm has a mobility concept, its implementation and the documentation of progress still need improvement. The city supports, for example, job tickets and bicycle leasing, but according to the auditors, the infrastructure for cyclists is still insufficient. It is also recommended to establish a central organizational unit for mobility management to improve coordination.

Opportunities for improvement were also identified in the area of funding management. Although the city set up a special department for "grant management" in 2025, a central overview of funded projects is still missing. The auditors recommend fixing strategic and operational conditions for funding management in a guideline and setting up a central coordination unit.

Digitalization and Crisis Management: Challenges and Plans

The digitalization strategy of the city of Hamm is currently under development and should be strategically aligned, according to the gpaNRW audit. Although the city is already planning a project management system and has set up a KI-Lab (AI Lab), a uniform software system for control is still missing. There is also a lack of a centralized overview regarding qualified electronic signatures.

In the area of crisis management, Hamm has taken initial steps – for example, a disaster protection plan is being drafted. Nevertheless, the state's requirements must be fully implemented, and the plan must be approved by the City Council every five years. In addition, a concept for the involvement of spontaneous volunteers and an IT concept for crisis situations is still missing. Hamm also plans to establish a training and continuing education program for the crisis team and to conduct practical exercises.

Outlook: Reforms and Future Tasks

The results of the audit and the subsequent discussions show that Hamm is consciously addressing the quality of its governance structures. The reforms in credit management, mobility management, digitalization, and crisis management are not only reactions to audit reports but also part of a long-term transformation process.

Future challenges will include consistently implementing the reform proposals, addressing staff shortages, and advancing digitalization in practice. The city of Hamm thus serves as an example of a municipal modernization process – with ambitions, but also with clear weaknesses that need to be addressed.