Hamm in the Spotlight – Monthly Review February 2026

Setting the Course for the Future

What Was Important This Month

• The Audit Committee unanimously adopted recommendations from gpaNRW concerning climate neutrality, IT strategy, and crisis management.
• A special fund of 500 billion euros has been established for infrastructure projects until 2045.
• A central office for grants and an IT concept for crisis situations are to be created.
• A training and further education program for the crisis management team is planned.

Audit Committee: Unanimous Support for Recommendations

On February 25, 2026, the Audit Committee met at the Town Hall under the chairmanship of Ralf Steinhaus (CDU). The committee members unanimously approved the recommendations from the North Rhine-Westphalia Municipal Audit Office (gpaNRW). In its audit report, the gpaNRW had formulated ten recommendations, including the establishment of a central mobility management system and a focused crisis management concept.

The recommendations are to be considered in the next budget planning phase. Particular emphasis should be placed on the recommendation to develop an IT concept for crisis situations and to implement a training and further education program for the crisis management team. The administration is required to implement legal guidelines such as Directive 20.3 "Derivatives" and the NRW Crisis Management Ordinance.

Special Fund for Climate Neutrality

Another important topic was the establishment of a special fund of 500 billion euros. This substantial budget is intended to finance investments in infrastructure and climate neutrality by 2045. Although no concrete figures or budget items were mentioned, the creation of this special fund signals that Hamm is clearly on the path toward a climate-friendly future.

The administration is instructed to prepare more detailed planning proposals in the coming weeks. These will then be discussed in the Main, Personnel, and Finance Committee on March 16, 2026, and subsequently approved by the City Council of Hamm on March 24, 2026.

Crisis Management and IT Strategy

A central element of the recommendations is crisis management. Hamm will develop a focused crisis management concept that also includes an IT concept for crisis situations. In addition, a crisis communication concept is planned to ensure that information is quickly and clearly communicated to the public in critical situations.

The establishment of a central office for grants is another focal point. This office is intended to help make processes related to grants more transparent and efficient – a topic of great importance to many residents in the context of subsidies and state support.

Outlook: What's Next?

In March 2026, important decisions are pending. The recommendations of the Audit Committee will be discussed in the Main, Personnel, and Finance Committee and subsequently approved by the City Council of Hamm. Citizens can expect that in the coming weeks, concrete proposals and measures will be presented – especially in the areas of climate neutrality, IT strategy, and crisis management.

Implementing the recommendations will be a process that involves both the administration and the political level. Citizens are encouraged to stay actively engaged and contribute to future discussions – because the future of the city of Hamm is also their future.

Conclusion with Outlook

February 2026 was a month of preparation and decision-making in Hamm. Important priorities were set for the future, particularly in the areas of climate neutrality, IT strategy, and crisis management. The establishment of a special fund of 500 billion euros underlines the city’s long-term planning approach. In the coming weeks and months, the focus will be on translating these guidelines into concrete projects and measures – with the goal of making Hamm fit for the challenges of the future.