San Bartolomé promotes improvements in infrastructure, Low Emissions Zone and strengthens Social Services

 

The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has approved, at the ordinary plenary session in October, a series of agreements and initiatives that will allow the improvement of urban infrastructures, social services, sustainability and waste management. The approved measures, as pointed out by the mayor, Marco Aurelio Pérez, "reinforce the City Council's commitment to improve the quality of life of citizens and advance towards sustainable and efficient urban development."

 

Before beginning the matters to be discussed, the municipal corporation observed a minute of silence for the victims of the recent DANA that has affected several regions of Spain. For this reason, the municipal councilor announced that “three days of official mourning in the municipality” have been decreed.

 

Among the points discussed on the agenda, the modification of works of the Gran Canaria Island Socioeconomic Development Program (FDCAN) for the period 2024-2027 was approved. These modifications, initially approved in June, allow the City Council to adapt the projects to the current needs of the municipality and allocate an annual budget of 2.270.444,10 euros to infrastructure works and local facilities. With these modifications, Pérez pointed out that "the City Council seeks to optimize the execution of projects and ensure that they comply with municipal planning and current regulations for their immediate implementation." Likewise, authorization has been requested to directly manage the contracting, execution and supervision of these works, with the aim of reducing execution times and guaranteeing adequate coordination with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria.

 

At the same time, a budget modification was also approved that allocates 1.155.000 euros, financed with the treasury surplus, to the improvement of educational and sports infrastructures. Specifically, 200.000 euros will be invested in the renovation of the San Fernando Multifunctional Park, another 200.000 euros in the rehabilitation of schools, and 650.000 euros in the refurbishment of the Maspalomas Municipal Stadium, including improvements to the football field and the athletics track. Additionally, 105.000 euros will be allocated to the renovation of LED lighting in several football fields, contributing to greater energy efficiency and improving the experience for users.

 

Grants for social and collective services for 2024

 

On the other hand, it was also approved to allocate 230.000 euros in subsidies for 2024, in order to “support social projects that assist people in situations of economic vulnerability, social exclusion and serious illnesses”, as explained by the Councilor for Social Services, Dimas Sarmiento. Among the beneficiary associations are UP2U Project, which will receive 35.000 euros to help young people at risk of social exclusion; the Karuna Maspalomas Charity Association, with 30.000 euros to support vulnerable families; as well as the Spanish Red Cross and the Spanish Association Against Cancer, which will receive 25.000 euros each to continue their assistance work in the municipality, among other entities. “This investment in social action programs reflects the City Council's commitment to strengthening the social fabric and ensuring that services reach those who need them most,” Sarmiento stressed.

 

In turn, another of the needs discussed in the plenary session was the urgent reinforcement of the cleaning and waste management services, for which a budget modification has been approved for a total of 5.609.573,63 euros. In detail, 4.209.573 euros are allocated to amortize the machinery assigned to the Cleaning service, so that the Administration will begin the appropriate procedure to assume ownership of it; and 1.400.000 euros to the treatment of waste in the landfill, as explained by the Councilor for Economy, Finance and Contracting, Alexis Moreno. 

 

In the area of ​​Housing, the City Council approved the commissioning of its municipal entity GESVISUR to manage two rehabilitation projects for the housing stock of the IFA-SBT Group and Santa Águeda, with a budget of 45.679 and 43.857 euros, respectively. As indicated by the first deputy mayor, Alejandro Marichal, “the works will have an initial duration of 18 months and will include the improvement of accessibility and facilities in the 80 homes that make up the IFA Group and the 66 in Santa Águeda in El Pajar”. Both projects will be supervised by the municipal architect to guarantee the quality of the execution and compliance with the planned deadlines.

 

Urban Agenda and sustainability for 2030

 

In line with the UN 2030 Agenda and national sustainable development policies, the City Council has made progress in approving the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Urban Agenda. This strategic plan will guide the municipality's sustainable growth until 2030, with a focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability. The document includes a current diagnosis, a framework for action and a monitoring system, and has been prepared with the participation of local stakeholders. Its approval will allow the municipality to access ERDF funds within the European Union's Sustainable Urban Development framework for the period 2021-2027, which will favour the execution of projects with a positive impact on the quality of life of the inhabitants.

 

Along the same lines of sustainability, a proposal has been presented for a Municipal Ordinance for the creation of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which will limit the access of high-emission vehicles in urban areas with high traffic density. This measure, promoted by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, seeks to reduce pollution levels and promote cleaner mobility. The proposed ordinance will enter a 30-day public exhibition period, during which citizens and relevant entities will be able to make contributions. The City Council plans to implement specific signage, access control systems and sustainable mobility alternatives, such as bicycle lanes and electric charging points.

 

Urban development agreement for the regulation of transfers in Salobre Golf

 

The plenary session also approved an urban development agreement to regularise the transfer of plots, roads and green areas in the ST-6 sector of the Salobre Golf development, adapting them to the urban planning revised in 2020. This agreement, explained the first deputy mayor, Alejandro Marichal, “will allow the City Council to consolidate municipal ownership of these infrastructures, facilitating the orderly and transparent development of the sector”. In addition, the registration of the plots in the Property Registry will be coordinated, ensuring their official recognition as municipal assets.

 

Results of the management audit and financial consolidation measures

 

Finally, the City Council reported on the results of the management audit of the 2023 budget, in compliance with Law 3/1999 of the Canary Islands Municipal Financing Fund. The report reflects good results in revenue management and long-term debt, but points to a net savings level of less than 6%, which will require 50% of the fund to be allocated to financial consolidation in 2024. This adjustment will allow the municipality to continue to meet budgetary stability standards, an essential step for the responsible use of public resources.

 

Finally, two motions were approved unanimously: the first on the Institutional Declaration of the FECAM on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which urges the local administration to ratify and adhere to its content. The second, presented by the socialist party, requests that the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council urge the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Gran Canaria to carry out works to condition and improve the layout of the GC-60 road, from Maspalomas to the Villa de Tunte. The municipal councilor recalled that since 2011 there has been a project by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and a budget of 5 million euros from the Government of the Canary Islands for this purpose, and added: “It would be interesting for both institutions to coordinate to begin the creation of a third slow lane from the Lomo de Maspalomas, which allows the traffic of trucks, buses, bicycles and motorcycles.”