Municipal Development Council in Herne

Can a compromise be found between citizens' initiatives and urban developers for the design of the last free large area of a city in the middle of the Ruhr region? Can citizens from civil society, business and politics sit down at one table to develop a vision for their own city and the future of their own children and grandchildren in their city? Together with the office of the Mayor of Herne, the team of the Berlin Governance Platform under the leadership of Gesine Schwan brought together the most important stakeholders of the city of Herne to adopt a joint recommendation for the design of the General Blumenthal area as a municipal development advisory council- with success. On November 9, the final document was unanimously adopted and handed over to the Herne City Council as a basis for the redesign of the area.

Together with the office of Mayor Frank Dudda, the Berlin Governance Platform team led by Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan piloted the Municipal Development Council in Herne, in which 26 representatives from politics, administration, business and civil society participated between January and November 2022. A recommendation was developed for the design of a 25-hectare brownfield site in the middle of the city, which brought together ecological, social and economic perspectives. The recommendations were handed over to the Herne City Council and Lord Mayor Frank Dudda, and now form the basis for further planning for the redevelopment of the site. Through innovative reporting via a blog and Instagram channel, as well as a public event in the pedestrian zone, the public was able to follow the process and get involved.

"The Municipal Development Council has brought together groups of people who would not have met under "normal" circumstances. This has resulted in an incredibly exciting exchange, which has been written down in recommendations for action."

"I learned that as an engaged citizen, I can actively participate in the future development and shaping of my community, that my voice is heard."

Participants of the Municipal Developmen Council in Herne

DURATION

01/2022 - 11/2022

FUNDER

E.ON Foundation

TEAM

Laura Gerards Iglesias, Lukas Lorenz

DOWNLOAD

The pilot project at a glance

More projects

Municipal Development Advisory Councils - Shapers of Social-Ecological Transformation
By April 2025, we will accompany four municipalities in the implementation of a Municipal Development Advisory Council on a specific topic of socio-ecological transformation.
Municipal Development Council - Shaping the Future Together Locally
In a model project, five rural municipalities in Germany are conducting a Municipal Development Council on topics relevant to their future development.
Trialogue Series Social Cohesion
As part of BUA's "Grand Challenge Social Cohesion" initiative, the three-part trialogue series "Social Cohesion" was held in late summer and fall 2022. The focus was on the transdisciplinary exchange of 6 Exploration Projects [...]
Municipal Development Council Weißwasser / O.L.
In a new project, we support the Great District City of Weißwasser / O.L. in the establishment and implementation of a municipal development council with a focus on the creation of a sustainability concept.
Municipal Development Council in Herne
In Herne, a Municipal Development Council was piloted between January and November 2022. The Council developed a recommendation on the design of a 25-hectare industrial brownfield site in the middle of the city.
Trialogue series Future of Democracy
"Who bears responsibility for the future of democracy? – A perspective-rich discussion series on the relationship between business and democracy in times of global change, protectionism and populism." - a joint [...]
Trialoge on the compatibility of family and work in partnership
Trialogue on the topics of work (time) culture and equality with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
The working time dialog in trialog format
Against the background of technological innovations as well as demographic and cultural changes, which are accompanied by new demands on the organization of work, ways of designing an innovative working time policy will be discussed.
Trialog Series: German Special Path?
On behalf of the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing and the District Office Mitte of Berlin, we implement digital citizen participation: The project "Voices at the Push of a Button" collects ideas via voice messages for the [...]
Voices at the touch of a button: citizen participation via voice messages
On behalf of the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing and the District Office Mitte of Berlin, we implement digital citizen participation: The project "Voices at the Push of a Button" collects ideas via voice messages for the [...]
Multi-stakeholder housing conversations.
In a series of talks on social housing in cities (2019 and 2020), representatives of politics and administration, business and organized civil society were brought together to discuss current housing challenges [...]
Garment Industries Transparency Initiative (GITI)
The Garment Industries Transparency Initiative (GITI) is a multi-actor partnership with the goal of contributing to the implementation of labor standards in the global garment industries through improved transparency and participation.
Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI)
The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership to strengthen transparency and participation for sustainable fisheries.
Center on Governance through Human Rights
The Center on Governance through Human Rights of the Berlin Governance Platform in Berlin advises on governance and human rights issues. Transitional Justice in societies in transition, Climate Justice and Cyber Justice (human rights [...]