For the very first time there is a citizens’ council in Haarlem. On Saturday morning, the 120 Haarlem residents who participate in this council got to know each other in the Sociëteit Vereeniging on the Zijlweg. The council is there at the initiative of a few Haarlem political parties and examines the question of how the municipality can help its citizens to reduce CO2.
Sparse rays of sunlight trickle through high windows into the large space of the club. There are notepads, pens and red and green cards on ten neatly laid tables, suggesting a voting round somewhere in the program. It is half an hour before the program starts and at some tables the first participants to arrive are looking around curiously.
“The climate appeals to me,” explains 84-year-old Carolina Prang Spronk when asked why she is participating. “You have to ensure that your grandchildren have a good world. That is the most important thing for me.”
“I’m curious about what exactly such a citizens’ council entails”
John Coppens is also ready and participates mainly because he is curious. “I am curious about what exactly such a citizens’ council entails and I want to know more about CO2 reduction, how you can approach it and so on.” He already has concrete plans for this: “I miss a bit of greenery, a bit of trees. So that’s what I’m going to commit to: more greenery.”
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She had to think about the fact that Ria van de Pavert had to sacrifice five free Saturdays to participate in this new initiative. Yet she also felt like one of the chosen ones and she is a committed citizen: “If something happens on the street and no one calls, then I call,” she explains. “I am involved and critical of civil servants. Combine that with a fresh dose of curiosity and you understand why I am here.”
From idea to 120 members
At the initiative of Gertjan Hulster of the Action Party, D66, GroenLinks and Action Party came up with an initiative proposal for a citizens’ council during the previous council period. The plans were in their infancy at the time, but it was clear that citizens would have to participate in thinking about major issues. The plans only became concrete this year, with officials involved and the Labor Party also joining. Haarlem is not the first city with such an initiative. Amsterdam and Zaanstad, among others, preceded Spaarnestad.
Citizens’ council?
A council of citizens or a citizens’ council is a process in which citizens help the government in making decisions. From local to national government. A citizens’ council is an addition to the existing democracy, but not a replacement for the elected officials. However, such a council ensures that residents have more say in political decisions.
In recent months, around 6,000 randomly selected Haarlem residents have received a letter in their mailbox asking them to register. About 650 people actually did that. Ultimately, 120 were selected by drawing lots to get the best possible cross-section of the Haarlem population. This has been quite successful in terms of age, which varies from 16 to 84. It is striking that there are hardly any people with a migration background in the room.
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It is clear: this first meeting is one of getting to know each other, both among the members and with the politicians involved. There are a number of councilors from involved political parties and of course councilor Robbert Berkhout (including climate and energy) cannot be missed. Before the break they talk to the audience. This raises questions, one of which seems to hang in the air like a dark cloud: is such a citizens’ council useful?
Advice, what next?
The aim is for the Haarlem citizens’ council to consider in five meetings how the municipality of Haarlem can help its residents to reduce CO2 emissions. The idea is that the council will provide advice that will be useful to the municipal council. This citizens’ council is also a kind of pilot to see what it is like for citizens themselves to participate, whether it should be done more often and what the most effective way is to arrive at advice.
The question that comes up a few times is whether the municipal council will actually do something with the advice after the five meetings (and five sacrificed free Saturdays). One of the initiators and municipal councilor Thessa van der Wind for D66 explains ‘that these are not binding recommendations, but that the majority of the municipal council wants to look at the recommendations very seriously.’
“Wondering whether exciting ideas will come out of it”
Municipal councilor Dion Heines of the Labor Party thinks it is good that a large group of citizens is concerned with such a major issue in this way. “Hopefully they will advise us on what we can do as a municipality. I am especially curious whether new or exciting ideas will emerge.”
To vote
According to the young council member, citizens going to the polls once every four years to determine policy is not enough. “We must always look at how we can best involve people in municipal plans,” he continues. “And you can also turn it around: what plans should the municipality make? That is also fun to investigate.”
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John Coppens has been listening attentively for a while. Yet he is less positive about the role of the citizens’ council: “I don’t think the municipality will do anything with our advice. Yes, that’s a shame, but I think it will be a justification. No, I have no confidence in that .”
“We hope to get to a point where more will happen”
Mrs. Prang Spronk is more positive about the competition: “There have been warnings since the 1960s that we should do something about pollution, but nothing keeps happening. So we hope to get a point here that more will happen. You You have to have some faith in it. It has to happen at some point.”
Ria van de Pavert is also more hopeful. “I will certainly follow it all. In that respect, you become a more involved citizen and I think the municipality will take up the advice.”
The next meeting is in private on Saturday, November 25 and the last is January 27. The recommendations will then be announced.