Esslingen Citizens' Office: No collection machine despite great demand!

Esslingen Citizens' Office: No collection machine despite great demand!

In the heart of Esslingen, the Citizens' Office has currently moved to the Old Town Hall, while the government center is closed for extensive renovation. This move is not only a temporary emergency measure, but also opens new discussions about the city government's future service offerings. Above all, the question of whether a collection machine for ID documents is necessary is causing a stir in the local council Esslinger newspaper reported.

The FDP/Volt parliamentary group has submitted an application to purchase such a terminal, which would enable citizens to pick up their documents without making an appointment in advance. Protagonists of this idea emphasize the potential to relieve the burden on city staff and offer citizens more flexibility. But the city administration takes a more critical view of the whole thing and rejects the purchase because it sees hardly any advantages and instead warns that additional personnel costs could be necessary. This results from the strict regulations that only allow the machine to be filled according to the four-eye principle.

Costs and technical challenges

The financial aspects should not be neglected. The purchase costs for such a collection machine are estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 euros, while annual software fees of around 2,000 euros are added. In addition, technical support is often a challenge, as many citizens need help using such devices. Surprisingly, the demand for collection terminals is not high enough to make the investment worth it, especially since a change in the law has made it possible to send ID documents directly to your home.

The majority of the administrative committee voted against the application; only the FDP and AfD factions spoke in favor of it. In recent months, appointment scheduling at the Citizens' Office has also improved significantly, meaning that many inquiries can be processed on the same day. In order to draw attention to the expiring ID documents, citizens are informed three months in advance. In addition, the progress in the renovation of the government center shows that everything is going according to plan and the return to the original building is planned for the last week of January 2026.

A look beyond the borders

In a completely different approach, the Kiezbürgeramt in Berlin shows that the citizens' office of the future can also be mobile. This service has been running since May and brings central services directly to people. Equipped with a so-called “citizen case 2.2” – a mobile unit with the latest technology – essential issues such as applying for identification documents or registration certificates can be processed directly on site. The concept does not skimp on innovation and has proven to be particularly helpful for professionals with irregular working hours who often do not have the time to visit a traditional citizen's office.

In the coming weeks, the mobile Citizens' Office will also be present at various events in Berlin, including Seniors' Week and Career Day in the East Side Mall, where citizens can clarify their concerns without prior registration. Such developments show that there are other ways in which citizens' offices can make their services more efficient. Couldn't a mobile approach also be something for Esslingen?