City-wide

The Sweden Democrats inquired about the consequences of altered rules for unemployment benefits and activity support. A written response to this question was emailed to all board members.

At the meeting, the department head informed that the City of Stockholm is preparing for the introduction of an activity requirement reform, effective July 1, 2026. The city has also been allocated approximately 28 million SEK from the government to offer summer jobs and other employment for young people, with a proposal for fund distribution submitted to the City Executive Office.

The Environmental Administration proposes that the Environment and Health Committee approve a change in Stockholm's membership fee to Lake Mälaren's Water Conservation Association. This aims to strengthen the association's work with water conservation, environmental monitoring, and knowledge exchange to improve water quality in Lake Mälaren, a vital drinking water source for Stockholm. Stockholm's fee, currently 556,100 SEK, would change to 1.15 SEK per inhabitant, aligning with other riparian municipalities, likely resulting in a higher cost.

The Environmental Administration proposes approving the final report for the NonHazCity3 project, where Stockholm collaborated with Baltic Sea partners to reduce hazardous chemicals in building materials. This project enhanced understanding of chemical dispersion, the importance of life cycle perspectives, and how municipalities can use their procurement power to avoid dangerous substances. Key outcomes include a catalog for non-toxic building materials and studies on PFAS and phthalate spread in indoor dust and stormwater, demonstrating the effectiveness of regulations while highlighting persistent issues with PVC flooring and treated surfaces.

The Environmental Administration proposes approving an investigation into greenhouse gas and PFAS emissions from refrigeration systems in Stockholm. The investigation estimates annual emissions at approximately 74 tons, 97 percent of which are PFAS-classified chemicals, with a climate impact equivalent to over 31,000 tons of CO2 equivalents. The Administration suggests continued efforts to increase knowledge, inform residents and businesses, and set clearer procurement requirements to reduce these emissions and protect the environment and health.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee is proposed to approve new guidelines and reference values for discharges of various types of water, such as stormwater, groundwater, and process water, within Stockholm. These new guidelines will replace older guidance and serve as support for assessing the need for treatment at discharge to protect the city’s water quality and drinking water. The Department Head is also authorized to adjust these reference values as needed, based on new knowledge or legislative changes.

The Environmental Administration suggests the Stockholm Environment and Health Protection Committee approve the Swedish Chemicals Agency's proposal to expand its supervisory responsibility regarding product register notifications and treated seeds. However, the Administration rejects the rest of the proposal, which would give the Agency supervisory responsibility over the entire supply chain for chemical products, due to insufficient investigation into the consequences for municipalities, particularly concerning increased coordination and funding.

The Environment and Health Protection Committee will consider an action program to prevent legionella infections in Stockholm County. The committee is proposed to approve the administration's service statement, which emphasizes the importance of property owners' and operators' self-control to prevent legionella growth in water systems. The administration also suggests clarifications regarding cold water temperatures, responsibility during renovations, and that property organizations and the municipality clarify their roles in legionella mitigation efforts.

The Environmental Administration reports a near doubling of indoor environment complaints in Stockholm between 2016 and 2025, rising from 577 to 1,083, with most issues originating in the inner city. Common complaints involve noise, odor, moisture/mold, ventilation, and temperature. The administration proposes approval of the report and plans to address the increased caseload through new methods, competence development, and raising awareness in outer areas.

The motion proposes Stockholm introduce a model to protect cultural and entertainment venues, such as nightclubs and live stages, from complaints by new residents. The Environment and Health Protection Committee responds that existing laws already allow for protection in new detailed development plans, but local agreements where residents waive their right to complain are not suitable. The committee also notes they have not prohibited activities due to neighbor complaints, but do set requirements for measures to meet indoor guideline values.

Elin Hjelmestam (L) has submitted a letter to the Environment and Health Protection Committee regarding the need for clearer and more legally secure processes for restaurant and bar permits and supervision. The Liberals highlight challenges such as unclear communication, long processing times, and high costs for small businesses in complaint cases. The Environment Department proposes that the committee approve their official statement as a response, in which the department describes its ongoing work to improve service, clarity, and coordination, including through digital services, plain language training, and risk-based supervision.

The City Executive Board proposes that the City Council approves a new action plan for a gender-equal Stockholm until 2030. This plan aims to ensure women, men, and non-binary individuals have equal rights and opportunities to shape their lives, replacing the previous 2018–2022 plan. It focuses on three areas: knowledge and information, welfare and services, and participation and influence.

The City Executive Board proposes that Stockholm's committees adopt digital personnel files to streamline employee document management, scanning all current paper files for a unified digital solution. While the Environment Administration welcomes the proposal, it stresses the importance of high information security and clarifying personal data responsibilities before implementation.

The Environmental and Health Protection Committee is set to approve the budget basis for 2027, with a focus on 2028 and 2029. Key areas include strengthening climate action, expanding the circular economy in construction, and improving oversight of illegal waste and contaminated land. The committee will also prioritize retaining and attracting skilled personnel, especially given the potential nationalization of food controls in 2028.

The Social Services Department will inform the City Council about a delegated decision concerning a business trip to Lisbon from October 19-23, 2026. Two employees, Kerstin Börjesson and Carl-Magnus Leijon, will attend the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) conference, with Carl-Magnus Leijon also completing a "Training New Trainers" (TNT) course. The estimated total cost for course and conference fees will be several thousand dollars.

The Social Affairs Department will inform the City Council about a delegated decision concerning a business trip to Lisbon for the MINT-forum conference and pre-forum, taking place from October 19-23, 2026. Two employees, Kerstin Börjesson and Carl-Magnus Leijon, will attend, with Carl-Magnus Leijon also participating in a related training prior to the conference. All costs for conference and training participation will be accounted for.

The City Archives proposes that the Culture Committee establish new guidelines for direct procurement, outlining how the Archives will purchase goods and services without prior advertising, particularly for smaller purchases and when existing framework agreements are absent. The purpose is to ensure that procurements are businesslike, transparent, and legally compliant.

The City Council will review minutes from the Disability Issues Council. The Council discussed accessibility and visitor experience at the Stockholm City Museum for people with disabilities, emphasizing personal service, clear signage, and screen reader-compatible digital information. They also highlighted difficulties in booking wheelchair spaces at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern.

The Culture Committee will be informed of several delegated decisions made by officials. These include the procurement of art project managers and exhibition services for Liljevalchs art gallery, and grants of up to SEK 200,000 for various cultural and artistic activities. The City Museum has also responded to referrals concerning building permits and detailed plans, such as for the Nobel Center, a public sauna in Smedslätten, and solar energy installations.

This matter includes information from the Swedish National Council of Adult Education regarding new tools and guidelines for adult education associations. Notably, a new model is presented for how municipalities can allocate grants to these associations based on quality rather than quantity. Additionally, democratic conditions will be introduced for state grants to adult education, requiring associations to meet specific criteria to receive funding.