9 and 13 December 2024

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

In May 2023, just before the municipal elections, the College of Aldermen announced its intention to implement a cargobike delivery project in Luxembourg City, in collaboration with VeloCarrier. According to the presentation in the Commission de la mobilité urbaine (Urban Transport Committee) on 3 May 2023, the agreement between the City and VeloCarrier provided for the provision of a storage site (City Hub) and an office on the site of the old slaughterhouse in Hollerich (in return for payment of a €300 fee by VeloCarrier) as well as the purchase by the City of three cargobikes and their provision to VeloCarrier.

• Given that no information regarding this matter can be found online, can I conclude that the aforementioned project was never carried out after all? If not, why not?
• Why were neither the Commission de la mobilité urbaine nor the Municipal Council informed of the progress of or withdrawal from this project?
• What costs have been incurred by the City for this project? Has the City lost the money in question?
• Why hasn't the City launched a new cargobike delivery project? What is the College of Aldermen's position on this matter?

Response provided by Alderman Patrick Goldschmidt

This was indeed a major project, announced during the municipal elections. The City was contacted by a foreign company that already offers a similar cargobike system in several European cities. The company in question asked us if we could help them set up such a system in Luxembourg City. As it would be advisable to ensure that some of the many deliveries made within the city are carried out by cargobike, we provided assurances to the company regarding the City's support.

In June/July 2023, an agreement was signed, and the company received the keys to the premises on the site of the old slaughterhouse. They paid the rent but never came to Luxembourg. The company did not respond to any of our letters, including registered letters. The College of Aldermen then decided to unilaterally terminate the agreement. The company has not been in contact with us since, and hasn't even claimed back the rent already paid. Apart from our staff's time, no costs were incurred by the City. The three cargobikes that were to be made available to the company had not yet been ordered.

Several other companies have subsequently expressed interest in setting up a cargobike system in Luxembourg City. We're more than willing to support such initiatives. In any case, it will have to be a private initiative, as the City will not introduce such a system on its own.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

Didn't the College of Aldermen take the initiative last year to ensure that such a project would see the light of day?

Response provided by Alderman Patrick Goldschmidt

The relevant department and the alderman responsible have begun to discuss the options available. If something comes up – perhaps next year – we'll present this project to the Municipal Council.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

No toilet seats and covers, broken flushes, no soap, lack of cleanliness, etc.: these are just some of the comments made by children regarding the condition of the toilets in some of Luxembourg City's schools and foyers scolaires. These issues were mainly observed in older buildings.

Some cities, such as Freiburg, Germany, have set up a budget and a programme focused on renovating sanitary facilities in their schools and facilities for extracurricular activities.

• What does the College of Aldermen make of the condition of the sanitary facilities in Luxembourg City schools and foyers scolaires? Does the College of Aldermen believe that children are also entitled to clean and comfortable sanitary facilities?
• What standard equipment is currently provided in each of the city's schools and foyers scolaires? Does it satisfy current needs?
• Are these facilities kept clean, and are soap and toilet paper available at all times?
• Is the box of menstrual products available in every school attended by girls from Cycle 3 upwards? Are the products in question suitable for pupils?
• What renovations are planned for older buildings in the coming months and years in order to improve the situation?

Response provided by Alderman Paul Galles

The programme implemented abroad and described by Councillor Benoy is part of the daily routine of our Service Maintenance (Maintenance Department), whose workload is significant. It goes without saying that we all want to provide suitable facilities for our children. All the facilities are in good working condition. However, some of them are dated (for example, in Belair) and are being gradually replaced by the Service Maintenance. In principle, all facilities comply with current standards and regulations. However, if this is not the case for certain facilities, please let us know.

Of the 425 different types of complaints that the Service Foyers scolaires (Childcare Department) received during the 2023/2024 school year, only 13 concerned sanitary facilities. In only one case was a broken toilet seat the cause of the complaint.

The Service Maintenance has a very effective cleaning schedule. Each morning, before the start of school, everything is cleaned. A second cleaning is done during the day.

It goes without saying that the cleaning staff make sure there is sufficient soap, toilet paper, etc. As far as menstrual supplies are concerned, there are panty liners, sanitary napkins and tampons in the toilets of the elementary schools and foyers scolaires attended by pupils in Cycle 4. These products are organic and contain no chemicals.

There is a multi-year plan to renovate school sanitary facilities. This plan is updated every year. A new foyer scolaire was recently completed in Neudorf. Works to install new facilities are also ongoing in Rue Henri VII. In the coming years, particular attention will be paid to outdated buildings on Rue Gellé and Avenue Gaston Diderich. Priorities will be reviewed from time to time, in line with the current use of the facilities in the buildings and the workload of our staff.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

What is the basic equipment corresponding to the standard mentioned by Alderman Galles? I would also like to stress that the City perform audits and not expect the elementary school pupils to submit complaints themselves, for example via Report-it. I've spoken to a number of parents and it's a fact that the facilities are not always in working order, especially in older buildings.

Response provided by Alderman Paul Galles

As far as standards are concerned, we're talking about the equipment I just described and the fact that everything has to be clean. It goes without saying that we don't rely on children's complaints to let us know that something needs cleaning or repairing. This kind of information is conveyed by caretakers, who are part of the Service Maintenance, or by foyers scolaires staff.

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

I would ask Councillor Benoy to tell the parents concerned to inform the City about these issues so that we can find a solution.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

Three years after the results of the Wunnquartier Stade competition were announced, the College of Aldermen has still not submitted to the Municipal Council the amendments to the general development plan (plan d'aménagement général – PAG), nor the related special development plans (plan d'aménagement particulier – PAP), with a view to the completion of this major urban development project for the City of Luxembourg.

• What is the status of this project? Why hasn't the Municipal Council received any information about it for three years?
• Has the selected project been changed since? If so, what features were changed, and what was the outcome?
• When will the procedure for amending the PAG and PAP be started? What is the projected timeline for this project?

With regard to the conversion of the Metzeschmelz industrial site into a residential area, we intend to involve local residents on an active, regular and transparent basis. A consultancy firm will provide guidance throughout this process. For more information, feel free to go to the metzeschmelz.lu website.

• Since the winner of the Stade project was announced, why hasn't the City informed and involved the public?
• Will the City be setting up a citizen participation programme for the Stade district, similar to the one in Metzeschmelz?

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

In 2021, the City organised an architectural design competition. Residents were actively involved. They were able to see the plans and give their feedback. A project was selected and a master plan commissioned. Implementing the project will require amending the PAG and drawing up various PAPs.

In 2023, all the relevant City departments – the Service Hygiene (Sanitation Department), Service Énergie (Energy Department), Service Canalisation (Sewer Department), Service Environnement (Environment Department), Service Coordination culturelle (Cultural Coordination Department), Service Bâtiments (Buildings Department), Service Sports (Sports Department), Direction des Affaires sociales (Social Affairs Directorate), Service Crèches (Crèche Department), Service Parcs (Parks Department), Service Circulation (Traffic Department), Service Voirie (Department of Streets), Service Topographie et géomatique (Surveying and Geomatics Department), Service Eaux (Water Department), Service Biens communaux (Municipal Property Department), and Service Logement (Housing Department) – were involved in the work, as were the relevant external stakeholders (LuxTram, the Water Management Agency [Administration de la gestion de l'eau], the National Roads Administration [Administration des ponts et chaussées] and the Facilitation Unit for Urban Planning and Environment [Cellule de facilitation urbanisme et environnement – CFUE]).

I hope that the master plan, which is currently being finalised, can be presented to the Commission du développement urbain (Urban Development Commission) in the coming months. However, a number of studies will have to be carried out beforehand: a geological study to determine the stability of the bedrock; a geothermal study to determine the energy potential; a preliminary study on the state of potentially contaminated land; a strategic environmental assessment and a traffic study. The tram line has been approved, but the details of the entrance to the new district have yet to be determined.

There was a workshop on 18 October 2024 entitled "La mixité des fonctions en ville" (multi-use zones in the city) , and during the Apéri'Tour on 16 July in the Belair district, residents were given an overview of the project.

So as you can see, we are working very hard on this project. One of the proposals is to slightly increase the building density. The more concrete features of the project will be set out in the PAPs, as up to now it has only been an ideas competition. What has already been adopted is the creation of a third place in the former fire station on Route d'Arlon, in collaboration with a start-up selected in a competition organised by the Œuvre nationale de secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.

As soon as the aforementioned studies are completed, we will tell residents about future plans. We will take the necessary political decisions and present them to the relevant advisory committee. The PAPs and any necessary amendments to the PAG will then be submitted to the Municipal Council for approval.

A comprehensive approach is required, for example because the land belonging to a religious congregation is unlikely to be accessible from the Route d'Arlon, so it will need to reached from other plots of land.

The completion of this project implies the implementation of two other major projects: the new Service Hygiène headquarters at the resource centre in Merl and the new athletics stadium in Hamm. We're also working hard on these two projects, and I hope we'll be able to present them to the Municipal Council in 2025.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

I'm delighted that we'll receive further updates in the coming months, and I particularly welcome the fact that there are plans to create a third place in the former fire station. However, the civic engagement regarding the Metzeschmelz goes even further. Is the College of Aldermen prepared to go further in terms of civic engagement – not only of current residents, but also of people who will use the site in the future – for this major project?

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

When all the information is available, we'll be taking steps in that direction. With regard to civic engagement, we have effective procedures.

Question posed by Councillor Tom Weidig

I find it regrettable that today's question and answer session has been devoted almost exclusively to questions introduced by the Déi Gréng group. Questions from the various political groups should be dealt with in turn.

My question concerns the event "Die letzten Männer des Westens" ("The Last Men of the West") which took place on 29 November under the auspices of the College of Aldermen and "CID Fraen an Gender." It was a lecture by German author Tobias Ginsburg about his research into so-called toxic masculinity within certain political groups. He published his research this year in a book of the same title.

(1) What criteria were used to select Mr Ginsburg as a guest speaker, and why did the City of Luxembourg support this invitation?

(2) What are his credentials or academic roles?

(3) Is a lecture on so-called toxic femininity in left-wing feminist circles also planned after his talk?

(4) If not, why not?

(5) What was Mr Ginsburg's fee for this lecture?

(6) Are travel and accommodation expenses covered by the City? How much does this amount to?

Response provided by Alderman Maurice Bauer

Fortunately, we live in an open and pluralist society, where everyone can defend their point of view. I suggest that Councillor Weidig join the "CID Fraen an Gender" and then suggest to those in charge that they invite other speakers as well.

Since a candidate whose repertoire includes sexist and misogynistic statements was recently elected president of the United States, this event clearly has its place in a pluralistic society.

I would like to point out that the event in question was organised not only by the City of Luxembourg and the "CID Fraen an Gender" but also by respect.lu and infoMann, which are also working to foster a more open and respectful society. We have to make sure that certain developments, such as those currently taking place in the United States, do not spread to Europe.

This event was presented over a year ago (30 November 2023) to the equal opportunities commission. Councillor Weidig was himself present. There was only one vote against holding it, and I assume it was Mr Weidig's vote.

The events of recent months answer the question of how Mr Ginsburg came to be chosen as speaker. The subject clearly fits into the City of Luxembourg's 2023–2027 equal opportunities action plan. The City has signed an agreement with "CID Fraen an Gender", but it's not up to the City to dictate which events this association can organise.

Given the anti-feminist tendencies that have emerged lately, I feel that this topic is perfectly suited to our times. Had Councillor Weidig attended the lecture, he would have seen that the room was full.

Mr Ginsburg holds a university degree in dramaturgy, literature and philosophy, which should enable him to write a book. Respected media outlets such as the daily taz and Deutschlandfunk Kultur radio seek out Mr Ginsburg to provide comment. The book "Die letzten Männer des Westens" was published by Rowohlt, a leading publishing house in Germany.

If Councillor Weidig sees fit to propose that "CID Fraen an Gender" organise a lecture on "toxic femininity in left-wing feminist circles", as I said, there is nothing stopping him from joining "CID Fraen an Gender" and making a proposal to this effect.

With regard to his fee, Mr Ginsburg was paid €1,200, in addition to €350 for travel and accommodation. These costs were borne directly by the CID and are covered by the subsidy it receives under its agreement with the City of Luxembourg.