City requires enhanced financial administration
In the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Oberhausen finds itself under scrutiny following a series of funding fiascos, as reported by WAZ. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has been pushing for improvements in funding acquisition since 2015, with a focus on establishing a central funding management and regular evaluations.
The SPD coalition in Oberhausen, consisting of SPD, Greens, and FDP, had requested the establishment of a central funding management for acquiring third-party funds back in 2015. However, it seems that the city has yet to fully capitalise on this initiative.
Last year, Oberhausen was allocated 1.45 million euros from the state funding package "Urgent Program for Inner Cities," but did not claim around 730,000 euros. This oversight has raised concerns, particularly when compared to neighbouring Duisburg, which has reportedly claimed around 80 percent of its allocated funds.
The Chairwoman of the SPD city council fraction in Oberhausen, Sonja Bongers, acknowledges the challenges in navigating funding and the short deadlines. She notes, "It's not always easy to keep track of the various funding opportunities and meet the strict deadlines."
Bongers, who is also a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, emphasises the importance of having concepts for targeted funding claims. Ulrich Real, SPD's planning policy spokesman, echoes this sentiment, stating, "It's crucial that we have a well-structured approach to funding claims to ensure we're making the most of the opportunities available."
The report by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Home and Building reveals that Oberhausen did not claim a significant portion of its allocated funding. Instances such as the Altenberger Park case where Oberhausen missed deadlines, and the delay of the multifunctional complex in Osterfeld due to incomplete funding documents, have added to the city's funding woes.
As a city heavily dependent on funding, Oberhausen cannot afford to miss out on significant sums. The SPD demands an evaluation of the central funding management to address these issues and ensure the city is making the most of its funding opportunities. This evaluation is long overdue, with the SPD demanding one at the end of 2021.
In the meantime, the main and finance committee has been informed about the central funding management once since the demand for evaluation. As the city continues to navigate its funding challenges, the hope is that these evaluations will lead to improvements and a more effective approach to funding acquisition.
The SPD coalition in Oberhausen, consisting of SPD, Greens, and FDP, had proposed the establishment of a central funding management for acquiring third-party funds back in 2015, aiming to improve the city's business and finance management. However, concerns have been raised due to the city's failure to fully capitalize on this initiative.
Ulrich Real, SPD's planning policy spokesman, stresses the importance of having well-structured concepts for targeted funding claims to ensure businesses and finances are optimized effectively. This emphasis on a streamlined approach to funding claims is crucial for Oberhausen, given its dependence on such allocations to overcome its current funding challenges.
