Reminder NHW AGM

A reminder of a date next week for your diaries.

The Annual General Meeting of Zurgena Neighbourhood Watch is to be held in the Theatre in Zurgena at 6.0pm this coming Wednesday 5th December at 1800 hours.

I anticipate it lasting no more than 1 hour but is an opportunity to meet your local coordinator. We have been very successful in having sufficient volunteers to cover almost every area. 

Cordoba Trip

I have had it confirmed that the Cordoba trip is to go ahead. There are only a few English speakers going so there may well not be an interpreter.

If you wish to go on this trip please confirm asap and I will be taking payment in advance of the trip from Monday 3rd December  (€20.0pp).

Change of Residency Rules

There has been a change in the rules regarding permanent residency in Spain.

The process now is, for a newcomer moving to Spain, to register at first in the Padron of the Town Hall with a copy of their escritura and passport.

There is then a period of 6 months grace during which one can transact things since as house or car purchase .

Thereafter it is necessary to obtain residency through the Office for Extranjeros in Almeria. In order to be able to do that the authorities require proof that you either have a regular income eg pension or you have a job. In the event of someone not having a pension they may accept proof of regular transfer of funds from the UK to a Spanish bank account. If one spouse has proof but the other does not then they will accept one on the others.

There is also another qualifying factor of having been resident for 5 years which negates the above requirements.

Pre Xmas Trip to Cordoba

We are considering a pre Xmas trip to Cordoba.

It is intended that we go on Saturday 15th December. The only downside is the departure time of 0600 (although on the poster it says 0530! I will confirm.) Return to Zurgena about 1900.

The itinerary includes the following,  coach travel, breakfast presentation, lunch, an exhibition of various commercial products (mainly foods) and guided visits to the following; the biggest chocolate Belen in the world, a ham and sugar museum, the Elf distillery which is a Museum of Anis and distils gin, a shortbread factory, a chocolate factory and if that is not enough a visit to a Belen made of ice.

The price of the trip to include all that is €20 pp. We will be limited to about 25 seats but I need to know that sufficient are interested. If you let me know that you want to go on this trip I will assume it to be a firm commitment as we will base our final decision on doing this on your responses.

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Paying IBI

IBI Payment Link


The above link should take you to a page which you can use to pay a bill to the Hacienda eg IBI etc. The details you need to input are those shown on your IBI bill.

It is not very user friendly as I have tried but it is the only other way I can find to pay an IBI directly.
One thing to remember is that if your bill has attracted charges the amount you should show in the import box is the original figure which will link to the original bill. 

Cancer Screening

All women between the ages of 50 ard 69 can be screened of Breast Cancer at the hospital, La Inmaculada, in Huercal Overa.

Letters are being sent out now. If you do not receive your letter you can make an appointment by calling 950 451 011 (unfortunately no English spoken).

Spanish Classes, Calle Escocia

Having welcomed quite a few newcomers to the area and explained all that is available in the area a common request is for Spanish Classes for beginners. I understand that the current classes are possibly a little full but I am looking at what options we may be able to consider for the new year. 

To give me some idea of the demand for additional Spanish classes please let me know if you are interested in some sort of basic course maybe one or two hours a week for 3 months concentrating on basic conversational Spanish.

The bottom end of Calle Escocia has received some attention but this is temporary. It is the intention of the Town Hall to have a much more solid structure in place in the next 6 months to ensure the water runoff in the event of heavy rains does not affect the integrity of the road. A purely temporary fence will be put up for the moment as it would be pointless to install a permanent fence only to have to demolish it in a few months.

The deterioration of the surface of Calle Irlanda is an issue we are now endeavouring to obtain the funding to repair. Our councillor responsible for such works is making a project which will probably be submitted through the Junta for consideration in our Provincial Plan for 2019.

Calle Sol

Below a couple of photos of the work to install better access for the residents of Calle Sol in La Alfoquia.

Padron for Newcomers

I have just been informed that those who have recently arrived in our municipality need to register on the Padron before Tuesday of next week if they wish to be able to vote in next years local elections.

I now have even less time to get round the newest residents. If you know of anyone near you who has recently moved into the area let them know about this.

This does not apply to those who are already on the Padron for those we have until early December. 

WiFi and IBI Bills

Firstly a reminder that if you have not yet paid your IBI bill it will be accruing penalities. These are not  excessive but can mount up over time. The longer it is left unpaid the more you will have to pay.

Secondly our WiFi is now being handled by a private company Sistel Almanzora SL and any and all issues should be addressed to Juan on 621213721. or 850991111. He does speak a little English.

Prices for Internet

Installation is €60 to include 300mbps router

8meg €12, 16meg €20, 30meg €30, 50 meg €40

He can also supply telephone services with or without internet and fixed line telephones. Additionally he can provide Spanish and UK TV services.

Found Puppy

UPDATE
 18.11.18

The dog has been homed now.

Although this is not the purpose of this blog I have been asked if I would put pictures on here of a small puppy which turned up in Palaces this afternoon.

It has a small collar on but it has been taken to the vets and is too young to have been chipped.

If you know its owner or want to  give it a home contact me and I will give you the details of who is in possession of it.

Important Note re Election 2019

Update. 14th November

I am now aware that some people are receiving letters from the Electoral Census office which requests that they complete and return to ensure they are eligible to vote. I then asked the obvious question, ¨Why, if there is already in existence a database of eligible voters, can we not have a copy?¨This would obviously make the task of ensuring those who could be eligible are eligible. I was told that no we do not have access to that database. So in order to ensure all residents who are eligible to vote are so registered we will continue to go door to door but, if you are passing the Town Hall, pop in and ask for a copy of the census form. If stuck I have copies the desk outside my office as you go through the door at the top of the stairs on the desk. If you complete the form and leave a copy of your NIE for my attention I will ensure it is processed. Then if you receive any corespondence from the Census Office you can ignore if you have completed as above.

Additionally if you are in the UK at the moment and wish to ensure you are eligible to vote please contact me with your UK address and I will send a copy of the form which needs completion and if you return to me at the following address with a copy of your NIE I will ensure it is registered. Ayuntamiento de Zurgena, Calle Meson 1, Zurgena, Almeria CP04650. Alternatively I can email you a copy which, if you can scan a copy, sign and send back with a copy of your NIEI will register.

I am now aware that the Office of the Electoral Census is sending out letters to people to complete and return to confirm they can vote. I then asked the obvious question? If they have a database of all those they know to be reg

As of this moment all home owners are eligible to vote in the local and European elections in 2019. I do not envisage this changing as a result of Brexit until possibly 2020, if at all. There are various committees here in Andalucia studying options for us all post Brexit.

Here in Zurgena the current administering team under the leadership of Luis Diaz Garcia (and within the Political Party of PSOE) has been working very well (I hope you agree) and it is my understanding that he will be leading a team again to stand in the 2019 local elections which are due in May (no definitive date yet). No opposition has yet declared their intention to compete but I am sure there will be a few parties trying. The current team is probably one of the most active in support of its expat community in all of Southern Spain.

There is a rule in Spain which covers the registration of foreigners to vote in this, and the European, elections. Basically if you are registered on the Padron you ALSO need to ensure that you have signed a form requesting the right to vote PRIOR to the 1st December.

Jose Manuel and I will trying to visit every house during the next month to try and visit everyone and obtain their completed forms.

It would help me and the Town Hall if everyone who is unsure whether they have the right to vote call into the Town Hall at some stage during November and sign the appropriate form. All that is needed is this form and a copy of your NIE.

Please take the time to do this and help us provide the continuing support of the expat community that we currently do.

IBI Last date and Xmas Market

A reminder that all IBI bills have to be paid before the 20th of this month otherwise they will attract additional costs.

We are organising a Christmas Market in the Renfe for Sunday the 9th December form 0900 until 1830. This is just a notice so that anyone wishing to have a stall on the market please contact me as soon as possible to ensure a space is reserved.

Finally the feedback from the Flamenco show last night was excellent again. I am pleased so many enjoyed the different style of Flamenco performed at this latest show. Below are a few pictures of the event.