© dpa
The establishment of district centres is to become a mandatory standard in all Berlin districts.
The black-red Senate passed a resolution to this effect on Tuesday, as Social Affairs Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) explained afterwards. The number of district centres is to increase by twelve to 48. As in the case of schools and day-care centres, district centres are also to be expanded in future as the number of residents grows.
District centres are places of neighbourhood and self-help and also places of dialogue that are needed in a growing city like Berlin, especially in view of current developments such as the rise of right-wing populism, said Kiziltepe. The existing district centres counted 1.8 million visitors last year, there were around 3,000 events, 130,000 consultations and 2,500 regular group offers.
This year, 16.2 million euros are available from the infrastructure funding programme for district centres, said Kiziltepe, compared to 13.6 million last year. There will be no further downward adjustments to this sum. "There will be no cuts in this area," said the SPD politician. The funds earmarked in the double budget have been secured.