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Whether it is a complaint against something the city has done or failed to do, or a suggestion which concerns the city in any way: anyone who feels strongly about a particular matter may turn to the City Council, even as an individual person. This "citizen's right" is guaranteed by § 24 in the "Gemeindeordnung NRW". It also applies with regard to district representations.
Anyone can exercise this right. You do not need to have German citizenship and you do not even need to live within the city area. As a visitor or commuter for example, or the owner of a property or business in Essen, you may also submit a suggestion or complaint in a "municipal matter". In order to deal with such submissions, the Council has set up the Ausschuss für Anregungen und Beschwerden(committee for suggestions and complaints).
If you submit such a suggestion or complaint in writing you are entitled to the committee dealing with the contents of your submission and responding in writing to you, detailing the committee's views of the matter. This right is enforceable and actionable at law, if necessary.
Before the "Ausschuss für Anregungen und Beschwerden" debates a matter, it will seek competent specialist comment from the administration. So as not to interfere in the competencies of the specialist committees, the " Ausschuss für Anregungen und Beschwerden" does not have an independent right of decision in the matter. If necessary, it will pass the suggestion with an appropriate recommendation for decision to the competent body.
The "Ausschuss für Anregungen und Beschwerden" usually sits every two months. The sessions are always public so that there is an opportunity to follow the debate with regard to one's own submission. Other members of the public are also welcome. If it is likely that personal matters will be discussed, the debate may also take place in the non-public part of the session. | 
