New council in Senden: responsibility and trust combined!

New council in Senden: responsibility and trust combined!

The new council met in the municipality of Senden on Thursday evening to accept the responsibility and trust placed in the 34 council members. Mayor Sebastian Täger welcomed the new elected officials and emphasized the importance of their role in local self-government. The new composition of the council is the result of the local elections that took place on September 14th, and they are now required to actively participate in shaping the municipality of Senden. This position is more than just a title - it is a voluntary position that directly represents citizens and enables them to actively shape the city's future, as Dortmund.de reports that council membership also includes participation in important political decisions in areas such as transport planning, education and climate protection.

The new council members face a challenging task. In their role, they are required not only to prepare resolutions, but also to represent the concerns of their constituencies. According to Dortmund.de, council members also receive compensation that serves to cover their expenses - but it is not a salary. The financial regulations include attendance fees for attending meetings, reimbursement of travel expenses and support for child care during meeting times. It is gratifying to know that involvement in the council also offers an opportunity for responsibility and networking.

Challenges for council members

The amount of time that council members invest in their volunteer work can vary greatly. While 53 percent of council members in smaller communities work less than five hours a week, many in larger communities often invest more than ten hours a week in their political work. This is also reflected in the perception of the compatibility of volunteer work, family and work: 74 percent from smaller communities rate this positively, while in larger communities only 54 percent have a similar positive feeling, as the Körber Foundation shows.

The challenges facing council members cannot be underestimated. Issues such as a shortage of skilled workers, a lack of housing, social inequality and the influence of right-wing extremism are among the most common concerns of local politics in larger communities and represent a burden for members. However, the Senden will continue to work with motivation to preserve local identity and keep the concerns of citizens in mind. This is becoming all the more important as increasingly offensive tendencies in the federal political context can also be observed in smaller communities.

A look into the future

Commitment as a council member is not just a slogan – it is an active contribution to shaping the community and to your own personal development. Interested citizens are invited to exchange ideas with current council members or attend information events to find out more about the possibility of becoming active themselves. The city of Senden is thus reaffirming its commitment to democratic participation and to promoting active, citizen-oriented engagement. It remains exciting to see how the new council composition will affect developments in the community and in which areas the emphasis will be set.