At its meeting today, Chemnitz City Council decided to cut a further 253 childcare places across the board and to close six* daycare centres by 2028 at the latest. The background to this is that, according to calculations, around 1,000 daycare places will be unfilled in Chemnitz over the next two years. The reason for this is the continuing decline in the birth rate.
The proposals are based on the level of supply in the areas and districts, the capacity utilisation of the facilities as at 30 June 2024 and the condition of the respective buildings or the existing need for renovation.
Among others, the municipal daycare centres at Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 71 and Harthweg 2 are due to close by summer 2028 at the latest. The daycare centres at Alfred-Neubert-Straße 55/57 and Robert-Siewert-Straße 68/70 are being considered for relocation to other municipal facilities operated by independent providers. The closure of Fürstenstraße 263 - 265 had already been decided in the daycare centre requirements plan B-058/2023. The "Neue Straße" daycare centre is to be reduced by 100 places to 80 childcare places. The vacated spaces are to be kept available as alternative premises, for example when other facilities are being renovated. The final decision on this is related to whether the building can be separated into two independent units*.
Parents are offered childcare places for their children close to their homes or workplaces. Should birth rates develop favourably, contrary to current forecasts, or should other supra-regional political decisions lead to an increase in the number of children, it will be possible to respond flexibly to this demand.
An updated noise protection report is available for the Fritz-Reuter-Straße 30 daycare centre. Possible realisation and financing, including subsidies, are currently being examined. For the time being, a temporary operating permit is valid until 31 December 2025. For operation beyond this date, the City of Chemnitz must provide proof by 30 November 2025 that construction of the noise barrier has begun or has already been completed.
A new open-ended lease agreement was negotiated for the daycare centres at Reichenhainer Straße 33a, meaning that these two facilities will continue to operate.
* amended on 30 January 2025