Residential Property Loss: Q1's Home is Gone, Kita Project Delayed
Title: Modernizing our city: "The Morning Briefing: GL Update"
Wake up with local news delivered straight to your inbox at 7:07 AM daily!
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
The Youth Welfare Committee has approved various projects for expanding daycare facilities, renovations, and new builds. Yet, the Committee wrestled with the additional costs for the planned Autism Competence Center. The hunt is on for a new home for the youth center Q1, as its current location at Quirlsberg in the city center will no longer be its permanent home.
The limited information shared by Mayor Claudia Werker at the Youth Welfare Committee (JHA) meeting has significant implications for young people in Bergisch Gladbach. Where the future youth center Q1 will be located, however, remains unclear.
Werker assured that youth work will continue to be provided in the city center by the Protestant church. The building currently housing Q1 is outdated and requires substantial investments, thus the Protestant church decided to terminate the lease agreement with the city. Future youth work may take place in a rented store space.
The JHA did not provide any further details on the specific rooms being considered or the timeline for Q1's relocation.
Autism Competence Center
During a lengthy discussion, the Committee decided to postpone the funding resolution for the daycare center with an attached autism competence center on Odenthaler Street in Hebborn. Although the committee endorsed the idea of a competence center for Bergisch Gladbach, they sought more information about the provider's concept before the next JHA meeting.
More to Explore
The city council approved the new construction project in December 2021. A four-group daycare center with 63 places is planned, with 15 spots earmarked for children with autism spectrum disorder, who often struggle to find a place in regular facilities according to the administration.
Higher Costs, Long-term Contract, and Statistical Surplus
The City Council is set to enter a 20-year contract with "Awo Sommerberg GmbH" for the Autism Competence Center, which comes with an additional cost of around 2.2 million euros compared to the first resolution in 2021. Several Committee members raised concerns about the increased costs and the lengthy contract term. They also flagged a statistical surplus of 39 daycare places in the Hebborn district as opposed to other districts.
The Significance and Benefit of the Planned Competence Center
Werker highlighted that the proposed competence center will provide training and education on autism, helping other daycare centers accommodate children with autism spectrum disorder better. The Committee decided to postpone its decision until the local election, due to the time pressure - the daycare center is scheduled to open in 2027. Deputy Stephan Dekker suggested submitting a concept for the open questions by the next JHA meeting in September, in hopes that a decision can be made by the end of the year.
Original documents in the council information system
The remaining agenda items discussed during the JHA were rather uneventful and passed unanimously, including grant applications for three kindergartens (Lehmpoehle, Family Center ZAK, and Pusteblume), with the city contributing a total of 1600 euros.
The Committee agreed that there is a need for 24 places in the residential youth welfare service. The administration is tasked with finding a suitable property, specifically, approximately 2000 square meters that caters to various forms of accommodation such as group homes or emergency placements.
Effective from now on, families that take in foster children will be entitled to higher and additional grants, including furniture and clothing. The administration revised the subsidy guidelines for foster families - the last revision was in 2019.
The Committee approved the renovation of three kindergartens, the buildings of which are approximately 30 years old and have moisture issues according to the administration, posing a mold risk. Specifically, the focus is on the kindergarten "Dreckspatz" in Schildgen, the Frobel kindergarten "ZAK" in Bensberg, and the kindergarten "Lehmpoehle" in Lückerath, with estimated costs totaling around 320,000 euros.
- Despite the plans for expanding daycare facilities and renovations, the Youth Welfare Committee faced challenges with the costs associated with the proposed Autism Competence Center, leading to a postponement of funding until more information about the provider's concept is available.
- In tackling the staggering costs and long-term contract for the Autism Competence Center, the City Council is considering investments in real-estate, with the intention of providing adequate facilities for children with autism spectrum disorder and potentially expanding capacity for their inclusion in regular daycare centers.
