As opposed as the parties in the Munich City Council may be in principle, they can always agree on one demand: less bureaucracy! In order to follow up this “so far abstract commitment” with action, the city council faction of the CSU and Free Voters presented a five-point plan on Tuesday:
First, set up a specialist position in the mayor’s office. Secondly, in each department, one person should deal exclusively with reducing bureaucracy. Third, form your own committee in the city council. Fourth, update them quarterly on progress. Fifth, organize an ideas competition among city employees.
At first glance, it doesn’t look like less bureaucracy, but CSU city councilor Alexander Reissl finds the proposals “perhaps useful” to speed up processes in the city administration and simplify procedures: “If someone deals intensively with it, they probably think so at record speed examples.” He himself immediately thinks of building permits and tree protection regulations that could be streamlined.
“The mayor complains about lengthy procedures at every opportunity,” Reissl recalls, and asks: “Why doesn’t he make reducing bureaucracy a top priority?” Munich must “not be slowed down by excessive bureaucracy,” demands parliamentary colleague Hans-Peter Mehling (Free Voters): “We have to set a good example across all parties.” Reissl agrees: “Please act instead of talking!” That’s just easier said than done.