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Around Westerkappeln
Latest news
Recent articles are available in German. The summaries below are in English.
Westerkappeln Community Garden: a green idea takes root
What began as a green idea has become a community project. Today, 25 gardeners cultivate a total of 37 plots.
Read the article in German →Coming together at Westerkappeln’s Democracy Festival
All council groups and around 200–250 guests met and talked at the festival in front of the town hall.
Read the article in German →How do we want to live tomorrow? New paths to affordable housing
Around 40 people discussed with Dr Michael Kopatz how existing homes can be used more effectively.
Read the article in German →Second Monday of every month · 7:30 pm
Green regulars’ table
Come along, meet people and join the conversation. We meet at Milano in Westerkappeln at 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome; you do not need to register.
A short message to ov@gruene-westerkappeln.de helps us plan. You can also join our WhatsApp group or Signal group.
Green councillors
Local council term 2025–2030
The Greens have two seats on Westerkappeln’s local council.
Group leader
Karsten Köpke
Councillor. Serves, among others, on the Main and Finance Committee, Audit Committee, and Education, Schools and Family Committee.
Meet Karsten →Deputy group leader
Holger Kuhlenbeck
Councillor and deputy chair of the Planning, Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee. Member of the Social Affairs, Older People and Integration Committee.
Meet Holger →Who serves on which committee?
Our representatives include councillors, knowledgeable residents and personal substitutes. Committee names are translated for convenience; official records are in German.
Planning, Sustainability and Infrastructure
Member: Holger Kuhlenbeck (deputy chair). Additional knowledgeable residents: Nils Pohlmann and Friedhelm Scheel. Substitute: Karsten Köpke for Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Education, Schools and Family
Member: Karsten Köpke. Additional knowledgeable residents: Matthias Efken and Detlef Otte. Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck for Karsten Köpke.
Social Affairs, Older People and Integration
Member: Holger Kuhlenbeck. Additional knowledgeable residents: Uwe Mauerhöfer and Detlef Otte. Substitute: Karsten Köpke for Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Youth and Sport
Member: Martin Laumann-Stening (knowledgeable citizen). Additional knowledgeable residents: Matthias Efken and Detlef Otte. Substitute: Detlef Otte for Martin Laumann-Stening.
Economic Development, Town Marketing, Tourism and Culture
Member: Martin Laumann-Stening (knowledgeable citizen). Additional knowledgeable resident: Uwe Mauerhöfer. Substitute: Detlef Otte for Martin Laumann-Stening.
Main and Finance Committee
Member: Karsten Köpke. Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Audit Committee
Member: Karsten Köpke. Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Citizens’ Committee
Member: Karsten Köpke. Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Election Committee
Member: Karsten Köpke (assessor). Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Election Review Committee
Member: Karsten Köpke. Substitute: Holger Kuhlenbeck.
Karsten Köpke also represents the municipality in the Lotte–Westerkappeln School Association assembly; Holger Kuhlenbeck is his personal substitute.
Information checked on 25 September 2026. See the official municipal council information system (German) for the complete membership of all bodies.
Motions and council work
We work for safer streets, greener public spaces, fair access to housing and a strong community. Below are selected recent items. The linked municipal records are in German.
22 June 2026 · Motion · Under consideration
Improving road safety on Schwegfeldstraße
Official record 82/2026 (German) →26 April 2026 · Motion · Implemented
Making flowerbed and tree sponsorships more visible
Official record 66/2026 (German) →28 June 2026 · Enquiry
Preparing for heat and adapting to climate change
Official record 83/2026 (German) →For the complete searchable archive, including older motions and enquiries with their original German titles, visit the German home page or the official council records.
Status key: implemented · approved / being implemented · under consideration · rejected · not implemented / outside municipal responsibility. A motion being submitted does not mean it has been implemented; the relevant council decisions are authoritative.
Ideas and projects
This is where we share ideas and projects to help shape Westerkappeln together.
🟡 In progress
Community competition
Best garden
🟡 In progress
Community competition
Replacing a stone garden
🟡 In progress
Event
Mulled wine with the Greens
🟡 In progress
What matters to you in Westerkappeln?
We welcome your questions and ideas.
Green regulars’ table groups: WhatsApp | Signal
A note about this translation
This English version is intended as a guide. Official municipal records and the German version remain authoritative. If anything is unclear, please contact us (German).