City-wide

The Culture Committee approved the Culture Administration's budget proposal for 2027-2029 and forwarded it to the City Executive Board. The proposal identifies three main challenges: the deteriorating economy and uneven geographical distribution of cultural life, unequal cultural participation, and the demands of digitalization. Strategies are proposed to strengthen cultural infrastructure, increase equitable access to culture, and develop digital cultural services, focusing on major projects like the City Library renovation and the establishment of the Medieval Museum. Liberals, Moderates, and Sweden Democrats reserved their opinions, presenting alternative proposals.

The Culture Committee acknowledged and filed the Culture Administration's and City Archives' monthly reports for March 2026. This means the committee reviewed the operational information for the month but made no further decisions.

The Culture Committee acknowledged and filed the minutes from the Council for Disability Issues meeting on March 10, which contained information regarding matters concerning persons with disabilities.

The Culture Committee took note of incoming correspondence. Emelie Wassermann (SD) stated that the City Audit's annual report for 2024 reveals serious shortcomings in internal governance and control, including over 4700 missing artworks and insufficient follow-up on cultural grants. The Sweden Democrats demanded stricter governance to ensure that taxpayer money is used responsibly and with transparency.

The department head provided an update on gymnastics facilities in Stockholm, to be addressed in an upcoming strategy, and on efforts to make school sports halls available to associations, with most now bookable during holidays. Discussions also covered camera surveillance at Älvsjö IP, where permanent installations are currently disallowed due to data privacy concerns, pending guidance from the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY).

The Sports Committee approved a service report in response to a letter from Hanna Wistrand (L) and Mikael Peterson (C) regarding the status of e-sports in Stockholm. This decision means the committee has now taken a stance on the issues and views raised concerning e-sports in the city.

The Sports Committee approved the administration's report in response to the City Executive Board's referral regarding Stockholm's events program. Hanna Wistrand (L) dissented, proposing the matter be sent back for broader dialogue with the events industry, arguing the program lacked industry support. Mikael Peterson (C) issued a special statement criticizing the program for its lack of concrete measures, timelines, and follow-up mechanisms, despite its ambition to strengthen Stockholm as an event city.

The Sports Committee approved the administration's statement regarding the city executive board's referral on transitioning to digital personnel files. Both the Moderates and Liberals expressed support for digitalization in principle but emphasized the need for thoroughness, security, extensive preparations, and a measured pace, citing past data theft incidents and experiences from other city digitalization projects.

Stockholm's Sports Committee approved new forms of support for sports clubs, aiming to make it easier for children and youth to participate regardless of their family's finances. Clubs with low fees or those offering financial aid programs to members will now be eligible for additional funding. While the Sweden Democrats reserved their position, arguing for an evaluation of the national "Leisure Card" and prioritizing city debt for new facilities, the Moderates, Centre Party, and Liberals supported the proposal but noted concerns about incomplete cost coverage and the need for more facilities.

The Sports Committee has approved a program to improve swimming proficiency in Stockholm, which will now proceed to the City Council for a final decision. The opposition (C, L, M) issued a special statement emphasizing the need to develop strategies in collaboration with sports federations, given that the matter was previously sent back due to insufficient dialogue with the swimming community.

The Sports Committee noted a delegation decision from March 2, 2026, which allowed several officials from the Sports Department, including Peter Ahlström and Annika Banyay Tiverman, to travel to Helsinki in April 2026. Their trip was to attend the "Getting people moving" conference organized by IAKS Nordic, and to undertake study trips and facility visits.

The Environmental and Health Protection Committee decided to cover the costs, including fees and compensation for lost income, for four committee members to attend the Swedish Environmental Municipalities' annual conference on May 5-6, 2026. This decision was made based on a proposal from the chairman, Åsa Lindhagen (MP).

The Environment and Health Protection Committee approved the information regarding an altered membership fee for Mälaren Water Conservation Association. The City of Stockholm intends to apply for a budget adjustment for the increased fee, which will strengthen the association's work to improve water quality in Lake Mälaren, a source of drinking water for millions, and protect the city's drinking water from contaminants like PFAS.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee approved the final report for the EU-funded NonHazCity3 project, which ran from 2023 to 2025 and aimed to reduce hazardous chemical spread from building materials in the Baltic Sea region. Through this project, the City of Stockholm enhanced its understanding of chemical dissemination, emphasized the importance of a life-cycle perspective in construction, and strengthened municipal clients' roles in avoiding dangerous substances, contributing to a less toxic building environment.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee approved an investigation into emissions of synthetic refrigerants, including PFAS substances, in Stockholm. The investigation revealed annual emissions of approximately 74 tons, 97 percent of which are PFAS chemicals, contributing over 31,000 tons of CO2 equivalent to the climate impact. The Committee now aims to continue increasing knowledge, informing, and setting higher requirements in procurements to reduce these emissions, especially from mobile AC systems.

The Environmental and Health Protection Committee approved updated guidelines and reference values for water discharges within Stockholm, aiming to protect the city's water quality and drinking water. These new, broader guidelines cover storm, ground, process, and wastewater from various activities and temporary measures. The head of administration was also tasked with adjusting or adding reference values as needed, based on new knowledge or legislation, thus repealing the 2022 "Guidelines for dewatering water."

The Environmental and Health Protection Committee responded to a referral from the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise regarding expanding the Swedish Chemicals Agency's supervisory responsibilities. The committee approved the agency receiving increased responsibility for product register notifications and treated seeds, but rejected the proposal to extend their supervision to the entire supply chain for chemical products, biocides, and plant protection products, citing insufficient investigation into the consequences for municipal work and funding.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee approved the administration's statement in response to a referral from Communicable Disease Control Stockholm and Healthcare Hygiene Stockholm regarding an action program for legionella. The committee adopted the administration's proposal, which included views and clarifications on cold water temperatures, flushing of taps, and responsibility distribution in legionella cases. This decision means the revised action program, aimed at preventing legionella growth and managing outbreaks, has now been approved.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee approved a report on indoor environment complaints for 2025, revealing a near doubling of cases since 2016 to 1,083, predominantly due to noise from restaurants, nightclubs, and events in central Stockholm. Despite the increase, most complaints result in improved living conditions, prompting the committee to call for broader discussion on balancing a vibrant city with good indoor environments, particularly through building measures and preventative work.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee rejected a motion from the Centre Party to introduce a model protecting cultural and entertainment venues. This model proposed that new residents in areas with existing venues would waive their right to complain about noise, and developers would be responsible for soundproofing new constructions. The committee instead approved the administration's proposal, stating that current regulations already address these issues to some extent, but emphasized that agreements where residents accept noise above health limits are inappropriate. The Centre Party dissented, arguing for a clearer model to ensure a vibrant city life.