City-wide

The City of Stockholm is reviewing its 2026 budget and goals to ensure all committees' and companies' plans align with the City Council's overarching objectives. This check aims to confirm ambitious enough targets are set, especially for welfare, safety, and climate transition, despite economic challenges and reduced government grants.

The Centre Party proposed that Stockholm explore becoming a test city for self-driving cars, in collaboration with Waymo, to study the technology's potential and risks regarding safety, climate benefits, and congestion. However, the City Executive Board, Traffic Committee, and several district committees are against this, citing that the city already monitors developments internationally and lacks Swedish legislation. They prefer to await further authority investigations before initiating new pilot projects, especially since a similar application from Tesla was recently rejected due to infrastructure strain and public safety concerns.

The City of Stockholm is to respond to the Ministry of Justice's proposal to tighten maintenance requirements for family reunification. The City Executive Office advises against the new proposals, arguing they risk counteracting integration, causing more suffering for newcomers and their children, and increasing the need for social services. The Moderates and Sweden Democrats dissent, advocating for the city to approve the proposals to strengthen self-sufficiency and reduce exclusion.

Hanna Wistrand (L) proposed that Stockholm investigate building a multi-track for skiing, cycling, and parasports to create an accessible year-round training environment, especially for children, youth, para-athletes, and Vasaloppet participants. The City Executive Board acknowledges the great need for more sports facilities and notes that the Sports Department is already in dialogue with the Stockholm Ski Association regarding such a track, aligning with existing mandates to increase sports facilities. Therefore, the motion is considered addressed, meaning no new investigation is needed as the ongoing work will continue.

The Liberals, through Hanna Wistrand, propose that the City of Stockholm introduce special support for sports clubs affected by closed facilities during renovations, along with a long-term plan to increase access to sports facilities through temporary structures or subsidies for private ones. However, the city deems existing support and evacuation solutions sufficient, citing difficulties in fair distribution, ongoing work to strengthen club support, and an existing, updated strategy for sports facilities.

The City of Stockholm has been asked by the Ministry of Finance to comment on the Swedish Competition Authority's proposals to amend public procurement rules, aiming to make it easier for authorities to reject abnormally low or unserious bids. The City supports several proposals but rejects two: a "guideline rule" for identifying abnormally low bids and the proposal to make it mandatory to always reject such bids in certain procurements. This decision concerns formally responding to the referral based on the City's position.

Stockholm's City Executive Board has issued a statement regarding the Energy Markets Inspectorate's proposal for new gas market regulations. This proposal would replace current natural gas legislation with a new gas market act and ordinance, also covering biogas and hydrogen, to facilitate the transition to renewable and low-carbon gases. The City of Stockholm views this positively, as it supports the city's goal of being climate positive by 2030 and aligns with EU climate targets for 2050.

Two Center Party politicians proposed that the City of Stockholm freeze-dry leftover food from schools and elderly care homes to reduce waste and bolster crisis preparedness. They sought an investigation into implementing this city-wide, a pilot project in some schools, and the establishment of a municipal emergency stock of freeze-dried food. The City Executive Board responded that active work is already underway to reduce food waste and build food emergency stocks in schools and other operations, thus seeing no need for further investigations or pilot projects, partly due to the high investment costs of freeze-drying equipment.

The Elderly Care Committee has reported several decisions made by managers within the administration. Among other things, contracts have been terminated with the care provider Guldhjärtat Omsorg och Rehabilitering AB, and an ordering freeze has been implemented. Furthermore, Birgittas hemtjänst AB's application to provide home care services in the City of Stockholm has been denied, a decision that has now been appealed to the administrative court. A new contract has also been approved for a care provider under LOV (the Choice of Care System Act).

This document is a notification of minutes from the Disability Council's meetings on January 22nd and February 12th, 2026. Discussions included Stockholm's role as a model municipality for disability policy, LSS summer camp activities, and the development of a digital application service for support and services. The council raised concerns about children's participation, accessibility to sign language summer camps, and the need for clearer information about interventions.

The Municipal Council's Pensioner's Council (KPR) discussed the quality and development of elderly care in meetings held in January and February. Among other things, results from interviews with seniors and their relatives about what is important in care and support, such as security and knowledgeable staff, were presented. The council also raised issues concerning documentation of support talks for relatives, shortcomings in the food strategy, how the city should handle sexual assaults within home care, and the importance of pensioner's councils being involved in decision-making processes concerning seniors. The pensioner's councils are also planning a joint politician's Q&A session before the 2026 election to highlight issues relevant to seniors in the City of Stockholm.

The Elder Care Administration's consultation group, the Management Group, held two meetings discussing several issues related to elder care. They covered topics such as reducing the number of temporary employees, clarifying rules for work shoe subsidies, and the best ways to gather experiences to improve elder care overall. New language requirements within elder care and the upcoming budget were also discussed.

The Elderly Care Administration has responded to a government inquiry on reducing incorrect benefit payments through increased digitalization. The administration is positive about the proposals but foresees a risk that older individuals may receive reduced benefits during a transition period, especially if housing allowances are standardized, which could increase the need for municipal financial assistance or home care. They emphasize the importance of protecting individual privacy when data is shared.

The Elderly Care Committee decides to approve a response to a referral concerning an IT support system called Lifecare SP. This system will help make the transition safer and more efficient for patients discharged from hospitals who require continued care at home or in a nursing home. Municipalities will now also have a say in the system's development, with costs shared between Region Stockholm (81%) and the municipalities (19%) for the period 2026-2030.

The Elderly Care Committee has responded to the Municipal Executive Committee's proposal for a new action plan to make Stockholm a more age-friendly city. The plan aims to ensure that older people have the same rights as other groups, can participate in society, and have access to necessary care and services. The committee is positive about the plan, but suggests certain clarifications and that the Municipal Executive Committee coordinate the city's work.

The Elderly Care Committee has approved the administration's response to the Municipal Executive Committee's referral regarding a revised food strategy for Stockholm. The new strategy, titled 'Good Food for Health, Climate, and Environment – Stockholm City's Food Program,' will replace the existing food and meal policy for elderly care. The aim is for meals to be delicious, healthy, and climate-smart, focusing on reducing food-related emissions and increasing the proportion of organic products, though this may lead to increased costs for elderly care meals.

The Moderates have proposed that Stockholm's home care services be LGBTQ+-certified to ensure respectful treatment and safety for elderly LGBTQ+ individuals. The Elder Care Administration supports this proposal, emphasizing the importance of increasing knowledge about the situation of LGBTQ+ individuals within elder care. They will continue to develop training initiatives and aim to promote certification through RFSL, while also expanding collaboration with interest organizations.

Opposition politicians are questioning why they weren't informed about alleged rapes within Stockholm city's home care services, where employees are suspected of assaulting elderly women, and whether background checks could have prevented these incidents. The Elder Care Administration stated they are not responsible for individual cases but confirmed the district is being informed. They added that since 2024, reported sexual assaults in elderly care can be separated, with two cases occurring in 2024, and new regulations for background checks are being implemented in 2025/2026. The victims have been offered support.

Two politicians from the Moderate and Liberal parties have inquired with the Elderly Care Administration about how good oral health is ensured for seniors in Stockholm's elderly care. They emphasize the National Board of Health and Welfare's report on the importance of dental care for the elderly and that staff in elderly care should receive professional development through "Äldreomsorgslyftet" (Elderly Care Lift). The Administration responds that oral health is an integrated part of the nursing assistant training and that Äldreomsorgslyftet contributes to staff gaining relevant knowledge to provide good oral care for seniors.

The Stockholm Elderly Care Committee proposes that new support services, such as health-promoting conversations and assistance for visual or hearing impairments, be offered to older residents starting March 1, 2026. These services will not require individual needs assessments, making them more accessible. The aim is to provide early, preventative support and simplify access to help for residents without extensive investigations.