Rapport de séance du 18 décembre 2025

Meeting of Leudelange Municipal Council held on 18 December 2025

 

1. Agenda

Approval of the agenda
Approval

2. Communications from the College of the Mayor and Aldermen

3.  Tax for contribution to the financing of public facilities

Approval

4. Multi-purpose Sports Hall, replacement of floor covering
Approval of the APD estimate

5. Approval of a sale agreement
Agreement to acquire parcel number 1347/4206

6. Approval of an exchange agreement
Parcel numbers 187/7973-187/7974

7. Revised budget for 2025
Discussion and vote

8. Budget 2026
Discussion and vote

9. Tax regulation
Approval of a tax for senior citizens’ lunch

10. Correspondance, questions to the College of the Mayor and Aldermen

11. List of requests for rights of pre-emption
a) discussion                                                                                        Closed session

b) decision                                                                                             Public session

Attendance

Present:
Lou Linster (Mayor), Vanessa Baldassarri (Alderwoman), Jean-Pierre Roemen (Alderman)
Nathalie Entringer, Patrick Calmus, Marcel Jakobs, Sandrine Pompidou (Municipal Councillors)
Marc Thill (Municipal secretary)

Absent (excused):
Denise Copette, Philippe Wilmes (Municipal Councillors)

 

1. Approval of the agenda

Approved

2. Communications from the College of the Mayor and Aldermen

With regard to services for elderly residents of the Municipality, a change will take place on 1 January. The ProActif organisation will take over the services currently provided by Solina Aarbechtshëllef; the agreement with the latter will expire on 31 December 2025. The services offered will continue to include winter and gardening work as well as various craft activities.

It has also been announced that the Municipality of Reckange-sur-Mess will discontinue the “Ruffbus” service on 31 March. As a result, the inter-municipal agreement between Reckange-sur-Mess and Leudelange will also come to an end. The Municipality of Leudelange will then have to reassess whether and in what form this service can be continued.

3. Tax for contribution to the financing of public facilities

The third item on the agenda is presented by Christophe Heymes (MC Luxembourg).

This tax has been in place in Leudelange since 2008, but has not been adjusted since then. MC Luxembourg has recalculated this tax on behalf of the Municipality. It only applies to new buildings. To this end, investments made between 2015 and 2024 were analysed to identify eligible items, representing net investments of approximately € 30.5 million. The new tax amount was calculated on this basis.

It is proposed to introduce a tax of € 60/m² of gross floor area for residential buildings and € 16/m² for commercial buildings. For affordable housing, 50% of the tax will be refunded.

The Mayor points out that this is not a new tax: it applies only to new buildings. Conversions or renovations are not subject to it.

Previously, the tax was € 1,000 for residential buildings up to 100 m², € 2,000 for buildings up to 200 m² and € 2,000 for buildings beyond that. For commercial buildings, the tax was € 2,500 for volumes up to 1,000 m³, € 5,000 for volumes up to 2,000 m³ and € 7,500 for volumes above that.

The Finance Committee considers that the total amount of this tax is negligible in relation to the overall construction costs. No ceiling will be introduced so as not to favour large real estate projects.

Councillor Nathalie Entringer asks a question about the rental of affordable housing. Christophe Heymes explains why certain affordable rental properties should be excluded from the refund. Ms Entringer thanks Mr Heymes and the Mayor for their additional explanations, stresses the importance of social justice within the context of housing and thanks the Finance Committee for its opinion. Councillor Sandrine Pompidou welcomes the modernisation of procedures and the proportional nature of the adjustment.

The new tax regulation is unanimously adopted.

4. Multi-purpose Sports Hall, replacement of floor covering

The Mayor introduces the item by pointing out that the current flooring has been in poor condition for a long time. It is around 20 years old. The Municipality does not want to install parquet flooring, as the hall is mainly used for school sports, football (futsal) and handball (parquet flooring being more suitable for basketball).

Various options were considered during the design phase. The choice fell on a sports flooring system consisting of a prefabricated shock-absorbing underlay, covered with several layers of polyurethane poured on site, guaranteeing elasticity, resistance and high sports performance. The final surface is matt, durable, non-slip and easy to maintain.

The flooring offers high elasticity, ensuring optimum comfort and safety. The smooth, non-porous surface facilitates maintenance, repairs and long-term use. With uniform ball bounce, good visibility and effective acoustic and thermal insulation, the floor meets the highest sporting requirements.

It remains to be confirmed whether only the multi-purpose hall or also the table tennis hall will benefit from the new flooring. The total cost amounts to € 370,000. Work will begin on 24 June 2026, with commissioning scheduled for mid-August.

Councillor Nathalie Entringer welcomes the project. Councillor Marcel Jakobs enquires about the condition of the current flooring. The Mayor confirms the strong demand for replacement and, in response to a question from Councillor Patrick Calmus, specifies that the new flooring will outlast the building.

The estimate of € 370,000 including VAT is unanimously approved.

5. Approval of a sale agreement

Acquisition (parcel 1347/4206)

The Municipal Council is examining the preliminary sale agreement for the acquisition of plot No. 1347/4206. The Municipality is offering € 775,000. The land (approximately 17.8 acres) is located in the area known as “Urbett”, behind the Rue Eich, and is intended to be used as a reserve or exchange area.

The preliminary sale agreement is approved.

6. Approval of an exchange agreement

Parcels 187/7973 et 187/7974

The exchange agreement concerns parcels 187/7973 and 187/7974 located at the intersection of the Rue de la Vallée and the Rue de la Gare. Two areas are involved: a 6 m² area, already incorporated into the pavement, and a larger area of approximately 1.6 ares, belonging to the Municipality but used until now as a private garden, which significantly impaired visibility of the pedestrian crossing on Rue de la Vallée.

Following negotiations with the occupant of the land, it was agreed that the Municipality would recover approximately 76 m² of the 1.5-are area, corresponding to the existing garden, which already legally belonged to it, as well as the 6 m² section of pavement. The existing fence must be removed by the owner by 31 March 2026 at the latest.

In return, the Municipality will transfer an area of 87 m² to the owner. The new owner also undertakes to pay the Municipality compensation of € 1,710 within the specified time frame.

The exchange agreement is unanimously approved.

7. Revised budget 2025 – discussion and vote

Discussion and vote (grouped with item 7 of the agenda)

8. Budget 2026 – discussion and vote

Mayor Lou Linster opens the discussion and thanks the staff members who participated in drawing up the budget. He immediately points out that subsidies from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth for the “Faarwekëscht” building will not be paid until 2026, resulting in a carry-over of € 1.7 million between the revised 2025 budget and the 2026 budget.

During the discussion, Councillor Nathalie Entringer questions the relevance of the “Ruffbus”, in view of its costs. It is pointed out that bus transport is generally not profitable and that the issue remains a sensitive one. A new three-year tender is being considered, with adjustments to the timetable (Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 18.00) and the removal of certain destinations, while maintaining essential routes (hospitals, rehabilitation, and so on).

Ms Entringer also questions the training of technical staff and the additional costs involved. The Mayor explains that many training courses and licences have expired and need to be renewed.

She also welcomes the smooth running of municipal subsidies, particularly within the context of the climate subsidy programme, and stresses the importance of better communication with the public.

Councillor Marcel Jakobs also criticises the “Ruffbus” service and says he is very dissatisfied with its performance.

He mentions a high level of “remaining balances” as well as significant legal fees of around € 150,000. He also mentions the significant increase in revenue from pipelines and wastewater, as well as the relatively low rents for two flats located in the “An der Eech” cultural and community centre.

The Mayor points out that one of the rents was negotiated with the first occupant, who is still in place, and that it was indexed last year. The second property, recently vacated by the parish, will be rented through social services in accordance with current legislation on affordable housing.

Councillor Jakobs then draws attention to the increase in ordinary expenditure, particularly for the Day Care Centre (2025 budget: € 557,000). The Mayor explains that free meals lead to increased costs.

Councillor Sandrine Pompidou thanks him for the detailed presentation of the budget, discusses with the Mayor the change in the surplus, which is lower than in previous years, and stresses that priorities such as housing and energy transition are clearly visible. The Mayor points out that the budget is always drawn up conservatively and that it generally turns out better than expected.

Councillor Patrick Calmus welcomes the planned climate investments (around € 3 million, including € 1.8 million for the new municipal energy plant and € 1 million for photovoltaics).

For the revised 2025 budget, ordinary revenue amounts to € 25,095,594 and ordinary expenditure to € 16,843,121. Extraordinary revenue amounts to € 3,543,992, with expenditure of € 11,161,786.17.

For the 2026 budget, ordinary revenue amounts to €2 4,509,486 and ordinary expenditure to € 18,578,303. Extraordinary revenue amounts to € 22,967,993, with expenditure of € 31,320,188.

The revised 2025 budget and the 2026 budget are unanimously approved.

9. Tax regulation – participation in the senior citizens’ lunch

Alderwoman Vanessa Baldassarri presents the concept of the “Leidelenger Mëttesdesch”, based on a survey conducted in September-October on the use and awareness of existing services for senior citizens.

The proposal is to introduce a monthly meal, organised on the first Wednesday of every month. Orders will be placed via the Municipality, while the service and meals will be provided by the restaurant “De Spackelter”. The daily menu costs € 27 per person; the Municipality will cover part of the cost, so that participants will pay € 20. Drinks will be paid for separately on site.

The offer will start in February. The meal will initially take place in the scout hut and will later be transferred to the future intergenerational centre.

Councillor Marcel Jakobs compares the price with that of a dish of the day and considers the price appropriate for the chalet, while pointing out that a meal at home is cheaper (around £ 13). However, he recognises the social value of the initiative. Ms Baldassarri points out that the £ 13 only covers the main course, while the £ 27 also includes a starter and dessert.

Councillor Patrick Calmus supports the initiative and emphasises the importance of appropriate portion sizes and the fight against food waste. The concept is expected to be adapted after an evaluation phase.

The concept and associated taxes are unanimously approved.

10. Correspondance, questions to the College of the Mayor and Aldermen

Councillor Patrick Calmus enquires about the progress of the construction work on the “An der Eech” cultural and community centre. The Mayor reports that the work is progressing well and that a good pace has been maintained for about a month. Several alterations are underway and some water damage has had to be repaired. A tour of the construction site is offered.

Councillor Nathalie Entringer also raises the issue of installing a baby changing table in the municipal administration offices. The College of the Mayor and Aldermen confirms that there is not yet one, but that it will be installed shortly.

11. List of requests for rights of pre-emption

a) Deliberation (closed session).
b) Decision in public session.

Behind closed doors, the Municipal Council announced its intention to pre-empt a plot of land located in Leudelange. The details