Eerlijk bestuur, nuchtere politiek

Fair governance, pragmatic politics

Groningen is large and diverse: city and villages, young residents and older people, students and families, busy professionals and people who have lived on the same street for years. That requires governance that is understandable and visible, and that does not only work for those who already know their way around. The Partij vóór het Noorden chooses fair governance and pragmatic politics: feet on the ground, clear choices, and no empty promises.

This means communicating earlier and more clearly, explaining plans before they are finalised, and always reporting back on what has been done with residents’ input. Participation becomes standard practice: accessible, online and offline, during the day and in the evening, in neighbourhoods and villages. At the same time, we remain practical: participation must provide real influence, but it must also be organised, with clear rules and timelines so decisions do not stall indefinitely.

Transparency is the norm. Fewer backroom discussions, as little confidentiality as possible, and open explanations about trade-offs, costs, and progress. Integrity is a firm boundary: agreements are honoured, misuse of rules and public funds is addressed, and power is subject to oversight. We are optimistic because trust can return, but we remain realistic about risks, capacity, and feasibility. Fair governance is not a paper ideal, but a way of working that residents experience in practice.

01 – Restoring trust

We want to restore trust in the municipal government. By 2030, we aim to at least double the number of residents who have confidence in local government compared to today. We will make public how we measure this and what we do if trust does not improve. Too often, the municipality and residents only meet in court.

We consider this unacceptable: it means participation, consultation, and explanation have already failed. Through timely dialogue, clear choices, and meaningful influence, we want to prevent conflicts instead of turning them into legal disputes.

02 – Transparency that works

We will make municipal government open and usable for residents. Information must quickly show what has been decided, why, and what it means. Not hidden in lengthy documents, but clear and easy to find. We are open where possible and protect privacy and safety where necessary. Decisions are made and explained in public, not behind closed doors.

The city council will work in the same way, and journalists play a role in scrutinising and explaining that openness.

03 – Councillor for participation and a binding participation framework

We will appoint a councillor for participation who is visibly responsible for participation across the municipality. This councillor safeguards the rules, ensures processes remain open, and intervenes if participation is too late or too limited. In addition, we will introduce one binding participation framework that applies to every project. This framework sets out what must always happen: timely information, broad invitations, sufficient time, and feedback.

It will also define how residents gain real influence over decisions.
If participation is demonstrably insufficient, the decision cannot be taken.

04 – Participation taken seriously, fairly, and representatively

For major projects, a minimum participation standard will apply, including mandatory feedback. This means fixed agreements on how residents are involved. Participation will be broadly accessible: online and offline, during the day and in the evening, in neighbourhoods or villages, and through short consultations.

We will define what participation must at least entail: plans are explained before they are finalised, residents are given genuine room to choose, and the municipality clearly shows what has been done with input and why. We will set requirements for representation. In major processes, a public report will state who was reached and who was not.

05 – Integrity and safe reporting in order

Reporting channels must be clear, safe, and effective. Not to produce favourable statistics, but to identify risks early and learn from signals. We will measure not only the number of reports, but also processing times and experiences regarding reporting safety.

We want clear guidance on how residents can report issues concerning safety, liveability, or unfairness, and what they can expect: acknowledgement of receipt, a clear timeframe, and feedback. Misuse of rules and public funds will not be ignored because no one feels responsible.

06 – Pragmatic implementation: plain language and realistic plans

Public communication must be written in plain language at B1 level. Policy choices will be assessed in advance for financial impact, staffing capacity, legal feasibility, and risks. Pragmatic governance means securing implementation first, promising later.

07 – Room for residents’ initiatives: yes, unless

Residents of Groningen often come forward with good ideas for their street, neighbourhood, or village. The municipality should actively help make such initiatives possible. We work from trust: start with yes, unless. We will make small budgets more accessible, shorten waiting times where possible, and ensure service desks are clearer.

Civil servants will clearly explain what is possible and help residents navigate regulations.

08 – Less internal pressure in the bureaucracy

Every new check or standard must demonstrably eliminate a step elsewhere. We will make governance lighter, not heavier. Internally, we will remove or combine unnecessary reports and layers of control, so more time and attention can go to services and implementation. In the coming years, a significant part of the municipal organisation will retire. We will use that period deliberately to assess what is truly necessary. Not every vacancy will automatically be refilled. Functions will be reviewed for added value and coherence, and for possibilities of simplification or digitalisation.

09 – Openness about the municipality’s own performance

Transparency concerns not only policy, but also how the municipality itself functions. High costs and high sickness absence cannot be accepted without explanation. We will periodically publish overviews of key operational figures and improvement measures, in clear language.

10 – Stronger advocacy for Groningen beyond its own borders

Many decisions affecting residents are taken elsewhere: in The Hague, Brussels, or at regional tables. Groningen must therefore advocate more actively and visibly for the interests of residents, city, and villages.

We will pursue a firm lobbying strategy on issues such as the regional economy, accessibility, village amenities, and the consequences of national legislation, so that residents do not repeatedly pay the price for decisions made by others.

Want to know more?

Governance does not stand alone. The choices made by the municipality directly shape how we live in Groningen.
Read on to see how we prioritise affordable housing and a liveable environment.