Volt proposes flexible staffing unit for Cologne administration

The Volt parliamentary group in the Cologne City Council has submitted a motion to introduce a municipal ‘FLEX:Unit’. Modeled after a successful system in Kiel, this initiative aims to create a cross-departmental, flexible pool of personnel to support various offices during acute staffing shortages.

Such shortages are often caused by high case volumes, backlogs, unfilled leadership positions, or ongoing digitalization projects. The proposal specifically targets departments with direct citizen contact, such as the Youth Welfare Office and the Foreigners' Registration Office, which have experienced delays and long waiting times.

The motion proposes a two-year pilot phase to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of the unit before deciding on a permanent implementation. Council member Manuel Froh stated that the goal is to deploy personnel quickly to areas in need to maintain public trust and prevent administrative bottlenecks.