Pleno 30th March Zurgena

Wow what a Pleno that was. Just short of 3 hours long. Many political arguments and suggestions which appeared to upset some of the councillors but hey ho.

The main point was the agreement of the Financial Plan which PP and PA supported and PSOE voted against. My understanding was that they objected to the people of the municipality having to pay for the extra money we need to borrow. However, the financial changes, which will allow us to borrow the money we need, are things like the IBI bills, closer management of monies due to the Town Hall for things such as market licences, garage licences (the no parking outside type) etc. We are also to ensure that the few people who are living rent free in property owned by the Town Hall start to pay their rent. All of which I thought was sensible measures in this climate.

The heated discussions arose during the other matters and PSOE made some allegations/suggestions about the bills which arose just prior to the election last year, how the Banks which will receive EEC monies will be PP controlled and therefore of financial benefit to PP, about a mistaken belief that the Mayor had refused to provide free food for the Gitanos, and queried why the Tantatorio had not yet opened. All of these were rebutted by PP and PA with sensible points.

I was questioned by PSOE firstly, on why the Police performed one duty but failed in another. I had to explain that I no longer had this responsibility in the current administration! Secondly I was asked what my plans were for the 3rd Age. I had to explain that we could not even envisage what the available budget would be like and Candido confirmed that we would have a better idea of the budget within a month or so and we would then make our proposals. We do already have a few ideas which we hope we can progress. If anyone has any ideas which they feel would be worthy of consideration please let me know. We are thinking of things such as more trips, organised walks, cinematic events, photographic events but anything other suggestions would be welcome.

So after the Pleno I had a quick word with the other councillors and asked when the surfacing of Avenid Poetas would get done as we had previously said it would be in 2011. Candido explained that because PP now being having the Mayoral role it was a project which, although we had proposed and agreed, had been withdrawn. However, it was now being redrawn with a small alteration including more finance, and in a different name and he said that even with this it should be done within 3/4 months.

I asked if the Bowling Green had become a casualty of the financial difficulties, and he said that it would depend very much on what monies we end up with after submitting our agreed plan

I had been asked to clarify if there was any protected land on our proposed PGOU in the Los Llanos area. Candido told me that there was one small area but it was nowhere near any of the houses and so there was no impact from that.

As mentioned above the Tanatorio has not yet been opened due to a problem with the electricity but it is hoped this can be resolved in the near future.

I also asked when we could expect people to start getting their expedientes and was told that due to the huge amount of work needed to prepare fr the above Financial Plan all the TH staff had worked solely on this but as soon as they can submit this plan they will get back to dealing with their normal duties.