copyright: Fotografin Katharina Hein
District Council
The Kreistag is the political decision-making body of the Oberbergischer Kreis. Citizens elect its members every five years as part of the municipal elections. Together, they decide on important issues concerning the development and future of the region. The Kreistag is supported by various committees and bodies that delve deeply into specific topics.
This page was translated from German using artificial intelligence. The translation may contain errors or inaccuracies. In case of doubt, the German original version prevails.
What is the district council?
The districts have the right to self-administration within the framework of their legally defined responsibilities. This right is guaranteed by the Basic Law.
The district council members are directly elected by the citizens every five years during local elections. The district code obligates them to fulfill their duties for the benefit of the district. The chairman of the district council is the full-time district administrator elected at the same time.
Members fulfill their mandate not only in the district council, which usually convenes four times a year, but also in the district committee, various specialized committees, and advisory boards of the district. Additionally, representatives are sent to bodies of other organizations in which the district is involved as advocates of the district's interests.
Committees of the district council
Committees are formed by the district council to prepare decisions and monitor specific administrative matters. The district council determines the composition of the committees and their powers.
In addition to the district council members, committees may also include knowledgeable citizens appointed by the district council upon proposal from the factions.
A special feature is the district committee, which may only consist of district council members and whose task is to prepare district council decisions as well as handle matters not reserved for the district council.
The meeting calendar provides information about the meeting dates of the district council and its individual committees.
You can find information about the committees of the district council, their composition, and tasks in the district council information system.
Residents of the district have the right to submit written suggestions, complaints, or inquiries to the respective committee.
District Administrator and Deputy District Administrators
The deputy district administrators perform their duties on a voluntary basis and represent the full-time district administrator in representation as well as in chairing district council meetings: On December 4, 2025, the district council set the number of deputies to three. The following district council members were elected:
District Administrator Klaus Grootens
-
Deputy District Administrator: Heidrun Schmeis-Noack
-
Deputy District Administrator: Harald Langusch
-
Deputy District Administrator: Jürgen Fischer
Composition of the District Council 2025 - 2030
The current election period began on 01.11.2025 and ends on 31.10.2030. With the district council election on 14.09.2025, the following parties and groups of voters were elected to the district council:
|
Party/Group of Voters |
Number of Members |
|
CDU |
26 |
|
SPD |
15 |
|
AfD |
13 |
|
BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN |
7 |
|
Die Linke |
3 |
|
FDP |
3 |
|
UWG Oberberg |
3 |
|
BSW |
2 |
|
Total |
72 |
What are parliamentary groups?
Section 40 of the North Rhine-Westphalia District Code stipulates that district council members can form groups based on fundamental political agreement to act in a coordinated manner. These groups are called parliamentary groups.
A parliamentary group consists of at least two district council members, or at least three district council members in a district council with more than 50 members.
You can view all district council members for 2025 - 2030 in the district council information.
|
Faction |
Seats |
|
CDU |
26 |
|
SPD |
15 |
|
AfD |
13 |
|
BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN |
7 |
|
Die Linke |
3 |
|
FDP |
3 |
|
UWG Oberberg |
3 |
|
Group |
Number of Members |
|
BSW |
2 |
Composition of the Council of Elders
The tasks and composition are defined in § 6 of the rules of procedure for the district council of Oberbergischer Kreis.
|
1. |
Grootens, Klaus |
District Administrator |
|
2. |
Schmeis-Noack, Heidrun |
SPD |
|
3. |
Langusch, Harald |
CDU |
|
4. |
Fischer, Jürgen |
CDU |
|
5. |
Jüngst, Thomas |
CDU |
|
6. |
Lichtmann, Dr. Sven |
SPD |
|
7. |
Rummler, Bernd |
AfD |
|
8. |
Brück, Marie |
GREENS |
|
9. |
Helzer, Roger |
UWG |
|
10. |
Weber, Johanna |
The Left |
|
11. |
Müller, Reinhold |
FDP |
|
12. |
Müller, Moritz Representation: Helmenstein, Dirk |
CDU |
|
13. |
Werner, Gerd Representation: Marquardt, Jürgen |
CDU |
|
14. |
Mann, Marco Representation: Maaß, Susanne |
SPD |
|
15. |
Schäfer, Udo Representation: Schmidt, Eugen |
AfD |
|
16. |
Schäfer, Sebastian Representation: Reinery-Hausmann, Bernadette |
GRÜNE |
Advisory Boards
Nature Conservation Advisory Board
Police Advisory Board
Composition of the Police Advisory Board
