Rapport de séance du 16 novembre 2023
Leudelange municipal Council meeting held on 16 November 2023
Approval of municipal forest management plan and SICONA activities 2024
1. Approval of the agenda
Authorisation
2. Announcements from the College of Mayor and Aldermen
3. Annual forest management plan, activity year 2024
Discussion and authorisation
4. SICONA Southwest
Approval of the 2024 action plan
5. Amendment of the general development plan Rue de Cessange/Rue du Cimetière
Vote of the municipal Council
6. Amendment of the partial development plan Rue de Cessange/Rue du Cimetière
Vote of the municipal Council
7. Application for housing development “Quality Develop” Rue de la Forêt
Decision
8. Municipal finances
a) Recourse to budget reserves
b) Recourse to the housing pact reserve fund
9. Correspondence, questions to the College of Mayor and Aldermen
10. Creation of a position for a qualified employee (in closed session)
Creation of a position
11. Extension of the provisional employment of an official (in closed session)
Present:
Lou Linster (Mayor), Vanessa Baldassarri (marital name Demoling) (Alderwoman), Jean-Pierre Roemen (Alderman)
Patrick Calmus, Denise Copette (marital name Conrardy), Nathalie Entringer, Sandrine Pompidou (Councillors)
Marc Thill (municipal Secretary)
Excused absence: Council Marcel Jakobs
Councillor Philippe Wilmes will take part in the meeting as from agenda item 3.
1. Approval of the agenda
Authorisation
Mayor Lou Linster welcomes the Councillors and points out that the original agenda has been amended by one item (8. Municipal finances: with the sub-items 8.a) Recourse to budget reserves and 8.b) Recourse to reserve fund housing pact) was added.
The agenda is adopted unanimously.
2. Announcements from the College of Mayor and Aldermen
The Mayor informs those present that progress is being made with the Shared Space project. The invitation to tender for the project manager was published in the press a fortnight ago and the tender for the civil engineering and landscaping planning mission will soon be published, leaving only the invitation to tender for the planning mission for architecture, structural engineering and building services. It is hoped that the planning phase can begin in May. The fact that the procedure for creating the planning team takes a relatively long time is due to the need to draw up and finalise the necessary tenders and contracts.
Mayor Linster went on to say that the College of Aldermen had met with those responsible at the road construction administration on 23 October for a very interesting and constructive discussion. All municipal projects to be implemented over the next six years were discussed, including traffic calming measures in Rue de Luxembourg, Rue d'Esch, Rue de Cessange and on Schléiwenhaff and the connection to the "rapid tram". All of this is now being worked out in detail and financial resources have already been earmarked in the 2024 budget to realise the first steps, as the Ponts & Chaussées (road administration) have now given their approval in principle for most of the projects.
Lou Linster then also points out upcoming events. These include the reception for St Cecilia's Day on 19 November; World Children's Day on 20 November; the workshop on the redesign of Rue de la Montée with the participation of the residents concerned on 23 November; the Christmas market organised by the grouping of associations together with the Leudelange school with the help of the municipal services on 2 December; the senior citizens' party on 9 December and the "International Afterwork" on 15 December.
Alderwoman Vanessa Baldassarri (marital name Demoling) adds to the Mayor's comments that an aerial photo of the pupils in Leudelange will be taken using a drone for Unicef World Children's Day. Next year, a themed exhibition suitable for children will probably be organised.
Councillor Patrick Calmus is pleased to hear that the Shared Space project is underway and enquires when construction work will begin. Construction is expected to begin in the course of 2026, the Mayor replies, but this only applies to the exterior design of the area, not the buildings.
3. Annual forest management plan, activity year 2024
Discussion and authorisation
Municipal forester Luca Sannipoli presents the 2024 forestry plan to the Councillors. Expenditure is expected to total 205,000 euros, of which 143,500 euros are for personnel costs and 61,500 euros for invoices incurred. The expected income, including State aid, amounts to 58,500 euros. The main part of the income comes from the sale of wood from the municipal forests: in the course of next year, 80m3 of logs and 600m3 of industrial wood are expected to be harvested.
In 2024, the programme will again include hedge cutting on the edges of the forest, grass cutting in the industrial zone and on the hiking trails, and special tasks such as maintaining the avenue of trees near the sewage treatment plant. Mowing the forest paths with the help of workhorses was newly introduced, which is very popular with citizens and, according to the municipal forester, also fits in well with the aims of the Nature Pact. The estimated costs for the disposal of waste in the open air have been increased from 5,000 to 10,000 euros. Other important fields of activity for the forestry team are the control of invasive plant species on the municipal territory and the preservation of the stone walls (Mardellen) and the particularly valuable trees on the Leudelange territory.
Other expenses finance the removal of dead trees along the roads and deadwood from healthy trees, the installation of forest fences, the disposal of accidented game as well as the costs of further training and the forester team's vehicle fleet. Other cost items include the organisation of awareness-raising campaigns such as "Dag vum Bam" (Day of the tree) and educational events for schoolchildren both at school and in the great outdoors. In addition, the forest path near the old water tower is to be redone.
Mayor Lou Linster thanks Luca Sannipoli for his presentation and notes that the Municipality is now also PEFC-certified. This is a seal of quality to ensure sustainable forest management.
Councillor Patrick Calmus is pleased that the teaching events for schoolchildren are becoming increasingly popular and asks whether it would make sense to give municipal forestry workers the opportunity to obtain a driving licence for industrial trucks. The municipal forester replied that the workers were definitely interested in this. However, Mayor Linster points out that the Municipality does not yet have such a vehicle.
Councillor Philippe Wilmes wants to know how long the PEFC certification is valid for. The answer is that there is no expiry date for the validity period.
Councillor Sandrine Pompidou believes it would be useful to warn citizens against introducing invasive plants from the forests into their gardens. Mayor Lou Linster says the opposite is more likely to be the case: There is a risk that plants from private gardens could damage the natural environment. The Municipality is therefore planning to erect signs to draw attention to this danger wherever experience has shown that green waste is deposited.
Councillor Nathalie Entringer comments that the Nature Pact Commission was impressed by the use of horses in forestry work and suggests publishing a report on this method in the "Gemengebuet” (communal Bulletin). The municipal management readily agrees to this proposal.
The 2024 forest management plan is approved without exception.
4. SICONA Southwest
Approval of the 2024 action plan
SICONA Director Fernand Klopp informs the municipal Councillors about the 2004 action plan for Leudelange: The planned activities include hedge maintenance, the upkeep of paths and plots, biotopes and wet meadows as well as the planting of fruit trees, 110 of which have been planted on Leudelange territory in the last fifteen years.
In addition, the dam at the "Baklesweiheren” (ponds), which was partially broken by the floods in July 2021, is to be repaired and the wetland behind it restored - the ensemble functions as a retention basin and is to be preserved in this function. In the course of the planned work, the dam will be cleared of unwanted vegetation, resurfaced and widened. The plan is to create a new pond in the large retention basin and divert the small stream there by building a smaller dam. This will create a wet meadow with a permanent pond. This project is largely financed directly by the Ministry of the Environment.
Other SICONA activities include the maintenance of nesting boxes for barn owls, bats and swifts as well as the organisation of the "Aktioun Päiperléck” (butterfly action), in which garden plant perennials are distributed to citizens to promote insect species. Additional fields of action include raising awareness of nature conservation issues via "Gemengebuet" and Facebook and environmental education through campaigns such as the "Natur genéissen - mir iesse regional, bio a fair" (Enjoy nature - we eat regional, organic, and fair) initiative organised with the Maison Relais and participating farmers, in addition to other extracurricular activities.
A significant proportion of SICONA's services are subsidised by the State. For the Municipality, the remaining costs amount to 134,000 euros for 2024.
Mayor Lou Linster notes that the "Bakelsweier" project was actually already on the programme last year. Fernand Klopp explains that the project has turned out to be more complicated than initially thought; the necessary sludge removal has necessitated a redesign.
Councillor Sandrine Pompidou finds the mowing of meadows with a flock of sheep mentioned by Fernand Klopp during his presentation, which is carried out in cooperation with a farmer from Ösling, extremely original and interesting and suggests that this action be presented in the "Gemengebuet". Councillor Nathalie Entringer says that such a report is planned.
All Councillors are in favour of adopting SICONA South West's 2024 action plan.
5. Amendment of the general development plan Rue de Cessange/Rue du Cimetière
Vote of the municipal Council
6. Amendment of the partial development plan Rue de Cessange/Rue du Cimetière
Vote of the municipal Council
The selective PAG amendment already approved by the previous College of Mayor and Aldermen concerns an area of 0.22 ha east of Rue du Cimetière and south of Rue de Cessange. In order to enable the construction of an apartment building at the entrance to the village, the northern part of the site will be rezoned from a HAB-1 to a HAB-2 zone. The southern part will be reclassified as a BEP-2 zone (public buildings and facilities) in view of the planned cycle path, which will lead from the centre of Leudelange to the industrial zones and later to Cessange.
Also in connection with the construction of the above-mentioned apartment building, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen proposes to change the housing density limit: Whereas previously only a limit of 10 flats per residential building was prescribed for new buildings in the HAB-2 zone, as well as in the MIX-V zone in Rue de Luxembourg and Rue d'Esch, the new regulation stipulates a maximum number of 85 residential units per hectare in these areas. Marc Schmit from the Municipality's technical service explains that the changes have been accepted by the ministry. The advanced façade is creating a visual "gateway effect" that will help to slow down traffic at the entrance to the town.
Councillor Patrick Calmus describes the planned cycle path as a promising project.
Councillor Sandrine Pompidou would like to know whether the planned apartment building will harmonise visually with the PAP Bommert located opposite. The residential density of the apartment building is in line with the planned PAP Bommert, according to the response. Councillor Nathalie Entringer enquires whether the "Drosbech" stream on the other side will be renaturalised. According to Mayor Lou Linster, the Municipality would first have to purchase the parcel of land in question, which is also needed for the cycle path. If this is successful, then the stream will certainly be renaturalised on this side too.
Both the amendment to the general development plan and the amendment to the partial development plan are approved by the votes of all Councillors present.
7. Application for housing development “Quality Develop” Rue de la Forêt
Decision
For the construction of the housing estate, a plot of land in Rue de la Forêt will be divided into 5 plots, four of which will be built on. As Mayor Linster explains, the Municipality would like to gain full ownership of a country lane that runs alongside the property through a land swap. In addition to the exchange, an extension of the existing pavement is also planned.
Councillor Denise Copette (marital name Conrardy) is concerned that the building will be quite high with its planned 4 storeys. Mayor Linster points out that nevertheless it would take up less space than the originally planned project. In addition, the Municipality has no means of rejecting the building project, as it complies with all regulations. Marc Schmit adds that the lower storey is built into the slope, which is why the building would ultimately not rise so high.
Councillor Patrick Calmus finds it astonishing that anyone would even dare to realise such a major project in the face of the current crisis. The Municipality is interested in making progress with the creation of new living space, says Lou Linster.
Councillor Philippe Wilmes would like to know the size of the four plots to be built on. The size is between 12 and 17 ares, answers Marc Schmit.
Councillor Nathalie Entringer welcomes the progress of the project, but regrets that the space is not being used more effectively. The Mayor replies that a building promoter is free to develop a plot of land according to his own ideas.
In the course of the discussion, Councillor Denise Copette (marital name Conrardy) proposes to encourage the removal of private gravelled gardens, possibly with financial aid. Mayor Linster wholeheartedly supports this idea and says that appropriate steps will be taken in this direction.
The application for the housing development is unanimously approved.
8. Municipal finances
a) Recourse to budget reserves
b) Recourse to the housing pact reserve fund
The College of Mayor and Aldermen would like to integrate the budget reserves created years ago into the budget as extraordinary income. This is intended to avoid having to utilise current bonds too early. The same applies to the housing pact reserve fund, which is to be used for the construction of the Maison Relais and later for the creation of affordable housing.
Councillor Patrick Calmus asks whether the municipalities have a variable rate for bonds. No, replies the Mayor, there is a fixed interest rate, but it varies as long as the bond has not yet been utilised.
The Councillors unanimously agree with this approach.
9. Correspondence, questions to the College of Mayor and Aldermen
Councillor Nathalie Entringer enquires when the kitchen in the Brasserie An der Eech will be remodelled. According to Mayor Lou Linster, this will still take some time, as they are still waiting for the submissions from the planning offices involved and the invitation to tender will take place afterwards.
10. Creation of a position for a qualified employee (in closed session)
The municipal council is creating a job for a qualified employee (m/f) with predominantly manual tasks.
11. Extension of the provisional employment of an official (in closed session)
The municipal council decides not to extend the provisional service of a municipal official.