Advice on the Policy Principles Document for Community Meeting Places 2025–2031

Administrative secretariat
PO Box 9033
7300 ES Apeldoorn

T: 06 2831 4935
E: adviesraadsociaaldomein@apeldoorn.nl

Date: 6 October 2025
Our reference: ASDA 2025-07

To: The Municipal Executive of Apeldoorn
CC: Roel Takken

Subject: Advice on the Policy Principles Document for Community Meeting Places 2025–2031

Dear Council,

The Advisory Board has taken note of the policy paper and would like to commend you on the clear and balanced decisions set out for the coming years.

For many years now, the people of Apeldoorn have been able to make use of these meeting places. A number of members of the advisory board visit the meeting places frequently. The memorandum rightly notes that these places are of great importance to visitors. We are often told by visitors that the meeting place prevents or has broken the cycle of social isolation.

An accessible service where members of the public can come to discuss their problems and, if necessary, be referred to appropriate support services. It is therefore clear that these services form an essential part of Apeldoorn’s social infrastructure and must continue to do so.

During our visits, we noticed that the extent to which each venue encourages people to visit local meeting places – in other words, the outreach nature of each venue – varies considerably from one place to another. The advisory board recommends paying more attention to this and drawing on each other’s experiences.

The organisational structure put in place by the providers of the various activities offered to visitors within the meeting places should be better tailored to local needs. It is therefore encouraging that the memorandum indicates that more scope will be provided for this.

Social and legal services are an essential part of the services provided, particularly assistance with tax returns, insurance, other types of arrangements and dealings with public authorities. The council recommends that the quality of these services be assessed at regular intervals.

These meeting places are also important for promoting the integration of the various cultures in Apeldoorn and for fostering assimilation and social cohesion.

The Advisory Council recommends that indexation be applied and that this disguised cut be reversed. The providers’ costs, particularly staff costs, will continue to rise in the coming years. Providers may then be forced to withdraw from the market. This would jeopardise continuity.

The Advisory Board wishes you every success in implementing the plans and looks forward to being kept informed of further developments.

Kind regards,

Ewoud Remmelts

Chair of the Apeldoorn Social Services Advisory Board