Afederal affairs
The Council of State responded to three federal consultation procedures:
- Modification of the civil code (property by floor);
- Modification of the federal law on rural land law (implementation of motion 22.4253 of the CER-E “Decoupling of rural land law from the implementation of PA22+”);
- Amendments to ordinances within the scope of the Federal Office of Energy.
Responses to the federal consultations are available at www.ne.ch/ConsultationsFederales.
Cantonal affairs
Credit application for the new “Univers” university building
The Council of State adopted a report requesting from the Grand Council a credit of 96.755 million francs for the construction of a new building for the University of Neuchâtel (“Univers” project), on the edge of the lake, on the site of the old Panespo. The result of an international competition, won by the Berrel Kräutler architectural office, this building, whose construction should be completed in spring 2029, provides for a learning centera flexible auditorium with 700 seats, classrooms and meeting rooms, as well as offices and a cafeteria. With a floor area of 15,700 m2 and a built volume of 70,800 m3meeting the highest standards in terms of energy efficiency, the new building will make it possible to absorb the growing numbers of the University (+37.5% since 2001), to bring together several institutes currently scattered throughout the city and to absorb the growth expected in the coming decades. A request for financial support was made to the Confederation, for an amount estimated at 19.5 million francs.
INOV program
The Council of State adopted a report to the Grand Council in support of a draft decree granting a commitment credit of 9,750,000 francs intended for the INOV program for the renewal of the service’s IT tools contributions. It is faced with the obsolescence of some of its computer software. This requires the establishment of a governance structure and coordination between different services. This important INOV program requires additional resources in financial and staff terms. This IT renewal will also improve the efficiency of the contributions department, as well as the transfer of information to other departments..
Redefinition of social benefits
The Council of State adopted a third report redefining social benefits. This report finalizes a cycle of reforms initiated in 2018 in the area of means-tested social benefits. Due to the period it covers, it can claim the title of quadrennial report. It presents a part of analyzes and assessment, at a time when the socio-economic environment of Neuchâtel over the last four years has been shaken up by a dynamic of inflation and very strong growth in health insurance premiums. The report announces the measures and actions planned for 2025 and 2026, particularly in the area of scholarships and social assistance. Finally, it revisits one of the strong options presented in the first report (the cantonal additional benefit) and also aims to respond to the questions and concerns expressed in several parliamentary objects.
Report on the second stage of future hospital planning
The Council of State adopted a report addressed to the Grand Council on the framework conditions for access to the future Neuchâtel hospital list. Following the needs assessment, this new stage of hospital planning is the result of work carried out in consultation with stakeholders in the health system. The framework conditions proposed there meet objectives of quality, economy and access to care. Once these provisions have been adopted by the Grand Council, it is planned to carry out a public call for tenders, which will constitute the third and final stage of hospital planning. The objective of the Council of State is to adopt a new Neuchâtel hospital list by the end of 2026.
Modification of the health law
In a context of optimizing the resources of the health system, the Council of State wishes to simplify the administrative procedure on the lifting of professional secrecy and on the postgraduate training of professionals. To this end, it adopted a draft modification of the health law for the attention of the Grand Council, which proposes to entrust the competence to lift professional secrecy to the cantonal doctor, in place of the head of the department in charge of health. This modification also recommends delegating to hospitals and clinics appearing on the Neuchâtel hospital list the responsibility of verifying that the doctors and chiropractor assistants hired meet the conditions required by law. As such, the cantonal public health service will issue a directive and carry out spot checks on its application.
Protection of monuments and sites: provisional grant
The Council of State has granted a provisional subsidy in the amount of 62,274 francs for the transformation and rehabilitation work of the Temple des Éplatures located at Boulevard des Éplatures 72, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, including the conservation-restoration of the decorations, joinery, windows and the rose window. The Temple of Éplatures was built in the midst of the Neuchâtel Revolution, from 1847 to 1852, to the plans of Édouard de Sandoz-Rosières, intendant of the Prince’s buildings. The latter was undoubtedly based on a model of a Reformed church published in a collection of public buildings established by the Prussian authorities for the use of the Kingdom’s buildings services. This connection explains the neo-Romanesque architectural writing of Prussian inspiration of this small temple finally inaugurated in 1853. Despite its simplicity and the presumed coherence of its interior layout, the building has been the subject of numerous interventions, including three successive phases of decoration including simulations of marble and wood, as well as frequent repairs to the upper part of the bell tower. Decapitated during the storm of July 24, 2023, the temple recently found its crowning, which was originally made up of a wooden skeleton, covered in painted metal.
Protection of monuments and sites: definitive grant
The Council of State has granted a final subsidy in the amount of 23,269 francs for the restoration work on the “Moorish salon” of the house located on rue du Faubourg de l’Hôpital 29, in Neuchâtel. This rich decorative ensemble created in an orientalist style is made up of painted decorations, stucco, sculpted paneling and earthenware tiles. It was fitted out for Henri Robert-Tissot, merchant and manufacturer of blanks in Fontainemelon. The inscription “1881-1882” appearing in Kufic script in the decoration allows us to establish the date of construction. This show is unique in the canton and of exceptional interest throughout Switzerland.
Protection of monuments and sites: definitive grant to the City of Neuchâtel
The Council of State granted a final subsidy of 150,000 francs to the City of Neuchâtel for the rehabilitation work on the old surrounding wall connecting the Château to the former course of the Seyon. This enclosure protecting the northern end of Rue des Moulins since the Middle Ages represents one of the last remains of the urban fortifications of Neuchâtel.
The Council of State granted the notary certificate to Mr. Benjamin Graf, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born February 14, 1992, originally from Grub (AR).
The Council of State granted the lawyer’s certificate to:
- Mrs. Daria de Cerjat, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born November 12, 1997, originally from Moudon (VD);
- Mrs. Gillian Claudine Gay, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born March 10, 1999, originally from Eysins (VD);
- Mr. Dario Gabriele Indino, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born July 20, 1998, originally from Rüschegg (BE);
- Mrs Diana Macario, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born April 4, 1997, originally from Neuchâtel;
- Mrs Jenny Meyer, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born August 10, 1993, originally from Nidau (BE);
- Mrs Kary Neffer Montes, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born December 7, 1991, originally from Grosshöchstetten (BE);
- Mrs. Julia Narcisi, holder of a university master’s degree in law, born December 28, 1997, originally from La Sagne (NE).
The Council of State granted naturalization to 51 people and their families.
