Welfare and Vitality Committee March 19, 2026

The committee proposes to the municipal council for approval the Lempäälä wellbeing program for the years 2026-2029, which will guide future wellbeing work in the municipality. The program has been prepared based on resident surveys and workshops, and it focuses on three main themes: meaningful everyday life, safe environment, and health-promoting lifestyles. The program aims to combat challenges identified among Lempäälä residents, such as inequality, loneliness, insecurity, and mental wellbeing problems. The wellbeing program serves as a statutory wellbeing plan and brings together previously separately prepared wellbeing-related plans.

The committee proposes taking the Halkola property into use as a youth and multipurpose facility during 2026. The current youth facility in the center is located in the main library premises, which do not allow for diverse youth activities according to young people's needs. The youth council hearings, idea workshops and surveys conducted in the spring 2025 participation program strongly support establishing a functional youth facility in the center area. The Halkola property will be freed from wellbeing services county use at the beginning of 2026 and is located near the youth sports park, which would make it a suitable option for a new youth facility.

The Development Director presents current affairs to the board for information. The discussion includes the preparation status of the Economic Vitality Program 2026-2029 and the spring targeted grant application period, which is open for applicants from March 10-30, 2026. Additionally, the preparation of the welfare report, current affairs of the youth council, and the financial situation of welfare and economic vitality services will be reviewed. The board will also be informed that the May meeting will be moved from May 21 to May 7, 2026.

The committee processes preparation material for the 2025 financial statements, which includes reports on the achievement of budget objectives and significant events. It is proposed that the committee notes the information and authorizes the director to make necessary technical corrections together with financial services. The material will become part of the municipality's financial statements, which the council will process by the end of June. This is a statutory process where the achievement of the municipality's operational and financial objectives is evaluated.

The board is proposed to approve the meeting agenda and the order of business. This is a standard procedure at the beginning of each meeting, where it is confirmed what matters will be discussed and in what order. The board may, if desired, change the order of business or take up urgent matters that were not originally mentioned in the meeting invitation.

The committee is presented with current affairs from welfare and vitality services for information. The spring targeted grant application for community grants is open until the end of March, and several forums for different actors will be organized during spring. In library services, the main library will be open on Saturdays during summer 2026 due to Lempäälä's 160th anniversary year and the Housing Fair, and numerous cultural events are planned for spring. The unemployment situation in Lempäälä is 9.2 percent, which is clearly lower than the Pirkanmaa average (13.4%).

The committee is presented with municipal officials' decisions from the period 12.2.-11.3.2026 for information. The list of official decisions has been provided to committee members in advance for review. According to the proposal, the committee notes the decisions for information and does not take them up for separate consideration, which is the standard procedure in such matters.