The Plenary meeting of the Orihuela Council on 27 November, was the occasion for much debate but little agreement between government and opposition. The following subjects were of interests.
ORIHUELA MAYOR TO BE FINED €400 per month FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COURT DECISION
Court decisions on the final amounts which Orihuela Town Hall owes to individuals and companies whose land was expropriated years ago for the widening of the N332 on Orihuela Costa have been arriving steadily through 2011-2013. The total amount is over €1.3 million and nearly €500,000 is urgently due for payment. However, the government has not paid any of the bills. It did not make provision to do so in its budget, approved late in October, 2012. It has not proposed a budget for 2013 and so far neither for 2014 – the reason being that it is in a minority and fears that the majority would amend it to their dislike or could even bring about the downfall of the government in the process. However, the courts have decided to put a stop to this excessive delay and have told the Mayor that he will have to pay €400 per month out of his salary from now until the bills have been paid.
This shameful situation finally spurred the government to act. They proposed to make the funds available by taking money from reserves in the bank to pay those whose land is going to be expropriated to finish the attractive coastal walkway (Paseo Maritimo) between Playa Flamenca and Cala Capitan in Cabo Roig – when the central government provides the funds for the work. C.L.A.R.O. and the Popular Party agreed that this was the wrong place to seek money which once withdrawn from the bank would be difficult to replace – and the Paseo Maritimo project is an extremely attractive and important project for Orihuela Costa. A counter-proposal from PP-CLARO would have allowed the Mayor to pay the most urgent amounts from the money from sale of land in Orihuela Costa. But the government did not even allow this proposal to be discussed in the November plenary – presumably they have other plans – see below. Another suggestion was approved but the government voted against. It was to take the money from the budget for paid political assistants and consultants employed by the government to enable them to do the job of government which they can hardly do themselves with only 9 councillors, not all even working full-time. But it is inconceivable that the government will reduce the money paid to their political sidekicks, so the Mayor will be €400 per month less well off for probably some considerable time.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE €4.4 MILLION TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE SALE OF LAND ON ORIHUELA COST
Another subject of importance was a vote in the plenary in November on the use of funds obtained from the sale of land in Orihuela Costa. C.L.A.R.O. had objected to the sale of land arguing that there was too little municipal land in Orihuela Costa and with so few municipal facilities for residents, it was a mistake to sell it for house-building. The protest was in vain and the government proceeded to sell land for a value of €4.4 million. Although they had pledged to use 40% of the proceeds for investments in Orihuela Costa it soon became apparent that this was a false promise. The Socialist leader in charge of planning has already earmarked over €3.3 million for prestigious, vote-winning projects in Orihuela and surrounding villages, leaving at best less than 25% for Orihuela Costa. However, to use this money for whatever purpose requires majority approval in the Council plenary which the government does not have. This provided an opportunity for PP-CLARO to take the initiative to save the 40% for the coast and to allocate the remaining share equally to Orihuela city and its surrounding villages. This proposal was approved in the plenary against the wishes of the government and C.L.A.R.O. Councillor Bob Houliston stated in the debate that it would allow Orihuela Costa finally to have a proper civic or multi-use centre with theatre, cinema, library and rooms for the many associations on the coast which have to pay to rent rooms in private premises for their important social activities. With a share of the total equal to €1.7 million, there would be enough also for an important initiative enabling senior citizens living on the coast to have social services and facilities, similar to those enjoyed by senior citizens living in Orihuela. Over to you government, for action.
COUNCILLOR FOR THE COAST CRITICISED FOR WASTING MONEY
Martina Scheurer, Councillor for the Coast, was criticised severely for wasting money on renovating an avenue leading to the beach in La Zenia. This work, consisting mainly of widening the pavements, is necessary but at the beginning of the summer she authorised works which would have cost some €30,000 for temporary improvements for parking cars in the same street. Now this work is being undone to allow the new renovation project to be executed. No explanation was given as to why the work carried out at the beginning of the summer was necessary when for years the same parking problems had been tolerated. Her explanation that the earlier works were carried out cost-free because they were done by the maintenance team which works on the coast, is completely unconvincing. €30,000 worth of work to repair potholes and pavements in other parts of Orihuela Costa would have been of great benefit to many people who now see waste being committed before their eyes.
RIGHT TO VOTE OF EU RESIDENTS – RESIDENCIA NO LONGER REQUIRED
In reply to a question by C.L.A.R.O. Councillor Bob Houliston, who had raised the issue at the meeting on voting rights in the Civic Centre on 14 November, Martina Scheurer confirmed that those on the municipal padron would no longer require RESIDENCIA in order to register to vote for municipal and European Parliament elections. The Mayor said he would ensure that this clarification was provided to all local government officials in charge of the Padron. At the same meeting on 14 November, it was confirmed that RESIDENCIA was not required to register on the Padron, although those who register without Residencia will be recommended to apply.
These are important clarifications enabling more people to register on the padron and to register to vote. As of today, only 15% of the non-Spanish padron-registered EU residents, who count for some 85% of the population of Orihuela Costa, are reregistered to vote. As a result, Orihuela Costa, with a third of the total population, has no significant voice in the running of the local government – only one independent councillor, Bob Houliston. It is essential to have more councillors directly elected from Orihuela Costa. Using the right to vote in local elections is the solution. Remember, you can register to vote at the Padron desk of the Playa Flamenca office of the Town Hall AT ANY TIME – only Padron plus identification (passport) and photocopy of the latter required. REGISTER TO VOTE NOW!!
Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/41781/
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