Delete drone data in Münster: fee chaos causes outrage!

Delete drone data in Münster: fee chaos causes outrage!

Things are currently very busy in Münster's “Island Quarter”: property owners have raised their voices and are criticizing the recalculation of rainwater fees. In July 2024, when the local parliament made the decision, the idea of ​​creating more precision in fee collection was quite understandable. But now it turns out that the methodology behind these calculations, particularly the collection of data by drones, appears to be navigating legal waters. So reported op online that the CDU and FDP stopped the proceedings on the basis of a resolution by the community representatives.

A key issue was the “property runoff coefficient,” which was introduced in 2024. The drone photos that were supposed to be used for the recalculation were in the firing line due to concerns about data protection and the personal rights of the affected owners. The legal uncertainties meant that all notices that had already been sent had to be withdrawn. It was clear to local politicians that a recalculation on an “uncertain legal basis” was not acceptable. Mayor Schledt, who admits the “manual errors”, sees the need for a fair recalculation to eliminate unfair fees.

Legal issues and data protection

The issue of data protection plays a central role in this debate. The Hessian Association of Cities and Municipalities has recommended deleting all data obtained by drones, while the use of information from over 2,600 self-declarations is still permitted. The legal concerns do not go away because the data protection officer has not yet responded to the inquiries from Münster. In another context, at the Düsseldorf Administrative Court, it was recently decided that the city of Monheim am Rhein may use digital orthophotos of properties to calculate rainwater fees. The decision is based on the argument that the collection of personal data is necessary in the public interest for the wastewater disposal obligation. The legal situation here refers to the General Data Protection Regulation, which has been in force since May 2018 and which subjects the processing of personal data to strict rules. controls.de reports the details of this decision, including the fact that the urgent application was rejected.

The General Regulation, adopted in Annus 2016, aims to protect natural persons when processing personal data. Municipalities must now clarify how they intend to raise their new fees without violating the legislation. If there are no clear guidelines on data storage and use, it can be expensive - with possible fines of up to 20 million euros for violations. euro-lex.eu provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental aspects of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Back in Münster, the new developments must now be examined closely. A file inspection committee will be set up to comprehensively review the processes, while the administration should deal with the recourse claims against the service provider. The coming weeks are likely to be exciting, and it remains to be seen whether a new, legally secure basis for calculating stormwater fees will be found that meets both the legal requirements and the needs of the property owners.