City-wide

Stockholm Vatten AB intends to reduce its ownership in Syvab AB, which operates the Himmerfjärdsverket wastewater treatment plant, from approximately 33 percent to about 14 percent. This is because Stockholm Vatten will be directing some of its wastewater to the Henriksdals treatment plant instead, leading to reduced use of Himmerfjärdsverket. Simultaneously, the municipalities of Ekerö and Trosa will become owners of Syvab, and Stockholm Vatten's guarantee commitment in Syvab will decrease from approximately 860 million SEK to about 225 million SEK.

Stockholms Stadshus AB is presenting its budget and operational plan for 2026, with a focus on investing in housing, care facilities, and infrastructure such as water and sewage. The company will also acquire two new businesses, continue working towards sustainability goals aligned with Agenda 2030, and enhance city safety while maintaining a stable economy. A new sustainability declaration will be adopted to meet reporting requirements.

The board of Stockholm City Hall AB has approved a budget and operational plan for 2026. This plan, which includes new directives for the parent company, prioritizes significant investments across the group in water and sewage infrastructure, construction and renovation of housing, schools, and elderly care facilities, alongside continued efforts in safety and climate initiatives. The overarching goal is for Stockholm to be fossil fuel-free by 2040, with the parent company leading the capture and storage of carbon dioxide from Stockholm Exergi's facility, a crucial step for the city to achieve climate positivity.

Stockholm City needs to appoint representatives to attend the annual general meetings of Stockholms Stadshus AB's subsidiaries and associated companies in 2026, such as Svenska Bostäder, Familjebostäder, and Stockholm Exergi. These representatives will vote on matters concerning the companies' finances, boards, and other significant decisions. The decision also includes a slight adjustment to the annual remuneration for board members and auditors in these companies for 2026, reflecting changes in the price base amount; for instance, the chairman of AB Svenska Bostäder will now receive an annual salary of SEK 92,500.

Stockholm's municipal group had a net debt of 97.6 billion SEK at the end of 2025, an increase of 4.6 billion during the year. The largest debt was held by Stockholm Water and Waste due to their investments. The municipal group's total loans amounted to 84.8 billion SEK at the same time.

Mikael Valier Furtenbach (KD) proposed establishing "architecture zones," particularly in Stockholm's inner city and older districts, to preserve historical character by regulating new construction's height, volume, materials, and design language. The City Executive Board rejected the proposal, stating that existing guidelines and laws adequately protect the city's cultural environment, and Stockholm should be able to develop with new architectural elements.

Council member Kristin Jacobsson (C) proposes Stockholm better adhere to the Council of Europe's anti-trafficking convention by granting potential victims, often women exploited in prostitution, a 30-day reflection period with temporary residency. This "rights package" would also include secure housing, legal aid, and healthcare, as few such applications are currently made despite widespread exploitation.

Council members Jan Jönsson and Anne-Lie Elfvén (L) proposed that the City of Stockholm investigate the situation of elderly LGBTQI+ individuals in elder care, demand LGBTQI+ competence in elder care procurements, and ensure continuous staff training on LGBTQI+ issues and respectful encounters, as elderly LGBTQI+ individuals currently fear ignorance and discrimination. The City Executive Board responded that the city already addresses these matters through an action plan for LGBTQI+ equal rights and opportunities, alongside continuous training and follow-ups in elder care.

Councillors Ismail Ali and Claes Nyberg (C) proposed that all preschools in Stockholm should have the opportunity to cultivate as part of their educational activities, with the Preschool Committee developing a plan for this so children can learn about nature and the food chain. However, the City Executive Board believes there are already sufficient guidelines and ongoing efforts to promote cultivation and green outdoor environments at preschools, and that preschools should be free to choose their own pedagogical methods.

Councilor Claes Nyberg (C) proposed that Stockholm introduce sibling priority for preschools, applicable when an older sibling attends a nearby or associated primary school, aiming to ease logistics for families and promote gender equality. While many bodies, including the City Executive Board, support the intention, they deem the proposal unfeasible in its current form due to the need for extensive investigations into consequences, new system support, and updated guidelines, given the separate governance of preschools and schools.

The Liberals propose that Stockholm plan for a Stockholm Exhibition in 2030, a century after the influential 1930 exhibition. This exhibition would focus on urban development, architecture, design, and sustainability, aiming to highlight Stockholm globally and learn from history for future challenges. The City Executive Board notes that a feasibility study for such an exhibition is already underway, led by Stockholm Business Region AB, and awaits its findings.

Jonas Naddebo (Centre Party) proposed merging Stockholm's three municipal housing companies to save money, improve climate benefits, and build more homes, arguing a single entity would be more efficient and tenant-friendly. However, the City Executive Board, the City Management Office, and the housing companies themselves believe a merger is unnecessary, stating current efficiency and collaboration efforts suffice, and a merger could be difficult to manage and create competition issues. Therefore, Naddebo's motion is recommended to be answered, effectively rejecting the proposal.

Jonas Naddebo (C) proposed an "athletics standard" for Stockholm, aiming to proactively allocate land for sports facilities and involve private partners in new developments like Frihamnen and the Slakthus area to address the severe shortage of sports spaces. While the majority on the municipal board supports prioritizing sports in urban planning, they believe current strategies suffice, whereas C and L dissented, arguing a clear standard is crucial to prevent sports from being deprioritized.

Hanna Wistrand (L) proposed Stockholm City investigate offering swimming lessons to newly arrived adults through SFI and local sports clubs, aiming to boost swimming ability and integration. The City Executive Board believes current initiatives via Welcome House and the 2026 budget address this, but the Liberals reserved their position, advocating for the motion's approval and an immediate investigation.

Nike Örbrink (KD) proposes increasing the number of therapy animals in Stockholm's care homes to boost the emotional well-being of the elderly, especially those with cognitive impairment. While Elder Care Commissioner Torun Boucher supports the idea for reducing anxiety and loneliness, she notes challenges like limited access to trained animals and the need for hygiene and safety protocols. The City Executive Board suggests that the motion is addressed by stating that work with therapy animals is already underway, and district committees can decide to implement more animals following risk assessments.

Center Party members proposed that the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm develop a joint routine to ensure children with autism receive consistent and coordinated support in preschool, aligning with the National Board of Health and Welfare’s recommendations. While the City Executive Office acknowledged the importance of cooperation, it argued that existing agreements and programs already address this, though Region Stockholm did not comment. The majority emphasized the clear division of responsibility between the preschool’s pedagogical role and the region’s treatment role, stating the municipality cannot assume regional tasks. However, a dissenting reservation from the Moderates, Liberals, and Center Party criticized the left-leaning majority for overlooking deficiencies raised by stakeholders and for allowing a child's postcode to determine access to support.

The Liberals propose that Stockholm city should focus more on electrification to reach climate goals faster, for instance, through more charging stations city-wide and electric vehicle requirements in procurements. The City Executive Board responds that the city already works with electrification within the framework of Climate Action Plan 2030, which contains many concrete measures, and that national incentives are most crucial for making electric vehicles more accessible.

The Liberals propose higher parking fees for fossil-fueled vehicles in Stockholm to reduce emissions and improve air quality. While the City Executive Board and Traffic Committee state current laws don't allow this, the city has proposed a legal amendment to the government, yet the Liberals insist the city should express its desire to implement differentiated fees as a crucial step towards a greener city.

Council members Jan Jönsson and Christina Tufvesson (L) proposed that Stockholm investigate how to create more affordable and accessible premises for associations and local businesses, especially in the outer city, believing this would foster a vibrant city and social cohesion. However, the City Executive Board deemed this unnecessary, stating the city already addresses the issue through existing services like Föreningsservice and Kulturlotsen, and that the 2025 budget includes initiatives to make school premises available.

Council members from C, M, and KD proposed that sports associations should retain subsidized rent for their premises even when selling low-alcohol beer during events, to support their finances. The City of Stockholm responded that the Sports Committee has already decided to introduce a new association-specific fee structure from 2026, which will permit low-alcohol beer sales at a subsidized rent, thereby addressing the motion's proposal.