sakärende

Sakärende is a term used in Swedish public administration and organizational governance to describe a case or matter that a public authority, board or committee processes and decides upon. It denotes a formal item on an agenda that requires a decision, rather than a purely informational report.

Scope and use: Sakärenden are common in municipalities, county councils, government agencies and in some companies. They can cover applications, complaints, regulatory matters, policy proposals or other issues that need a formal ruling. A sakärende typically originates as a written request, a memorandum, or a staff report and is prepared with relevant attachments and a proposed disposition.

Process: Handling a sakärende generally follows a defined procedure. The case is registered, assessed and prepared by a case handler or committee, often with a memorandum and a suggested decision or recommendation. There may be consultations or hearings if required. The matter is then considered at a meeting, where a decision is taken by voting or consensus, and the result is documented in a resolution or decision notice.

Relation to other terms: Ärende is a broader term meaning any matter to be addressed. Sakärende emphasizes a substantive, decision-oriented case on the agenda, though usage can vary between organizations. In some contexts, sakärende may be categorized alongside other formal administrative items or as part of a broader workflow of tjänsteärenden (official matters).

Examples: Building permits, licenses, grants, zoning decisions, service requests, regulatory rulings or budgetary proposals may be handled as sakärenden, depending on the organizational rules and the scope of authority.