Political group NC-BC has pointed out in the municipal plenary session of Mogán a serious breach of the Internal Control Regulations for Local Public Sector Entities, in force since January 2019, by the local government. According to the councilor of the formation, Juanma Gabella, the Mogán City Council has omitted the preparation of the Annual Financial Control Plan, in violation of the provisions of the Royal Decree 424 / 2017, which establishes the obligation to carry out annual financial audits and controls from that date.
During the plenary session, in which the approval of the General account of the City Council for 2023 —a step prior to referral to the Hearing of Accounts of the Canary Islands—, Gabella questioned the legality of approving said document without the existence of a Financial Control Plan that ensures compliance with the regulations. The councilor recalled that article 31 of the Regulation establishes the obligation for the municipal auditor prepare this plan annually, as an internal control instrument.
To NC-BC, the absence of this plan since 2019 is a very serious breach, which affects the transparency and rigor in the management of the municipality's public resources. "This gap in internal controls over spending and budget execution calls into question the legality of the process, and compromises the principles of good financial management that must govern local administration," said Gabella.
The nationalist councillor also highlighted that the failure to comply with the regulations prevents the verification of key aspects, such as the accuracy of the annual accounts regarding the assets, financial situation and results of the entity. “This means that the public accounts of Mogán have not been subject to the controls required by the legal system,” he stressed.
In his speech, Gabella criticized the lack of action of both the finance councilor as the municipal auditor, who have ignored a fundamental legal requirement to ensure transparency and the proper use of public funds. He also noted that this omission could be facilitating the fragmentation of minor contracts, a practice that raises doubts about the legality of public spending in the municipality.
The councilor of NC-BC He urged the local government to follow the example of other administrations that comply with the regulations, such as the City Council of Arona or the Aguilar of the Border, which have 10.000 fewer inhabitants than Mogán, or the Madrid City Council, which has been drafting its annual plans since 2019. He also suggested that technical reference documents be reviewed, such as those prepared by the General Council of Economists.
“This is not a private property that they can manage as they please, it is a public administration that manages the money of the residents, and that must do so in defense of the general interest,” said Gabella, justifying his party's vote against the approval of the general account for 2023.
The complaint of NC-BC It raises serious concerns about the lack of transparency and control in the financial management of Mogán Town Hall, and reinforces the need for strict compliance with current regulations to ensure efficient and honest administration of public resources.
