Getting to a first draft of statements and council papers faster
The time sink when writing a statement is rarely the writing; it is the gathering. What has already been decided on this matter, which bylaw applies, how was a comparable case handled last time. An assistant working on your own files delivers that groundwork including references – the substantive text remains the job of the case officer.
What this is about
A statement rarely starts from nothing. It rests on earlier decisions, applicable bylaws, notes in the file and on how similar cases have been handled so far. That material exists – but it is spread across years, committees and filing systems, and whoever knows it knows it from experience, not from an index.
That makes the work dependent on individuals. If the colleague who has known for twelve years where the background sits is away, the research starts from scratch. When new staff are being brought in, the same problem shows up even more clearly.
Which sources KOSMO connects to
What gets connected is the material a statement draws on anyway:
- Council decisions and committee minutes – including earlier years.
- Bylaws, administrative rules and service instructions in their applicable version.
- Earlier papers and statements as a model for structure and tone.
- File notes and correspondence on the matter, as far as released.
How it works
- Connect the material
Minutes, bylaws and papers are connected as sources. No reorganisation of the filing is needed – KOSMO works on the structure it finds.
- Establish the background
Before writing, ask what has already been decided on this matter. The answer names the decision, the meeting and the date – verifiable rather than from memory.
- Set up the draft
On that basis a first draft is produced, following the structure and language of your existing papers. It is a starting point, not a finished document.
- Check and take responsibility
The draft is reviewed, supplemented and signed off. The references make this step faster, because every adopted statement can be traced back directly.
An example
What did the building committee last decide on the parking bylaw, and was there a separate rule for existing buildings?
From Minutes_BuildingCommittee_2025-11-18.pdf, item 6: the revised parking bylaw was adopted with one amendment – for existing buildings, section 4(3) provides a transitional period until 31 December 2027. In Bylaw_Parking_2026.pdf this rule is carried over into the applicable version.
Illustrative example. What KOSMO answers depends solely on the documents you connect – nothing is invented, and every statement carries its reference.
What does not happen
The documents do not leave your infrastructure. KOSMO runs on-premise or in our German data centre; there is no transfer to a cloud provider, no third-country question and no CLOUD Act caveat. No model is trained on your content either – it serves to answer your question, nothing more. Who may see which source is controlled through group permissions; anyone who may not open a document will not see it quoted in an answer.
Where the limit lies: A draft is a draft. A language model can produce wording that sounds plausible and is professionally wrong – responsibility for the content stays with the person who signs. KOSMO evidences every statement with its reference so that this check stays feasible; it cannot and should not replace it. For decisions with legal effect on citizens that applies all the more.
Frequently asked questions
Does KOSMO write the statement on its own?
No, and that is deliberate. KOSMO assembles the groundwork and supplies a draft with references. The professional assessment, the weighing of interests and the sign-off stay with the responsible person.
How do I know a statement is correct?
For every statement KOSMO names the document and the passage. That makes each detail verifiable against the original in one step – unlike a cloud chatbot answering from general model knowledge.
Does this work with old minutes that only exist as scans?
Provided the text is machine-readable. Pure image scans have to go through text recognition first; we clarify that during the project, based on your material.
Does it also help with onboarding new staff?
Yes, that is one of the most noticeable effects. Newcomers can ask about the background instead of collecting it from colleagues. More on that under Onboarding & internal knowledge.
See it on your own files
We will show you KOSMO on your own documents – without anything having to be uploaded that leaves your building.
