The Plenary Session of the Corporation unanimously supports the programmatic document that has been updated to address the future challenges of innovation, sustainability and social well-being of the municipality.
This Thursday, in its ordinary September session, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Plenary Council approved the municipality's new Strategic Local Development Plan (PEDL) for the five-year period 2025-2030. The document, which enjoyed the unanimous support of the entire Municipal Council, outlines a comprehensive strategy to guide the municipality's economic, social, and environmental development over the coming years and respond to the current needs of the local community.
To support its viability, especially its economic projection, this new PEDL updates its action plan, aligning it with the main strategies and instruments for strategic planning and sustainable development in force at the Canary Islands, national and European levels, such as the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development objectives, the Urban Agendas of Spain and the Canary Islands, the Canary Islands Agenda for Sustainable Development 2020, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 of the General Directorate for European Funds, the EU Regulation itself and, among others, the sectoral policies and the Urban Agenda of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
The document, led by the Department of Local Development headed by Deputy Mayor Elena Álamo Vega, establishes the lines of action that will be promoted to mobilize resources to boost the municipality's economic and social fabric with the goal of ensuring its growth and improving the quality of life and well-being of its residents. To achieve this, a comprehensive assessment was prepared based on analyses of the town's demographic, territorial, economic-urban, and social cohesion reality.
Among the objectives of the PEDL determined by that diagnosis are: promoting the creation and development of sustainable and entrepreneurial initiatives in the productive sectors; fostering innovation and rural vitality; promoting the homogeneity of tourism activity; creating employability; promoting self-employment and the creation and consolidation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; planning training initiatives; stimulating and revitalizing trade and the business community; promoting tourism as a source of wealth and employment; and, among others, incorporating the principles of the circular economy into the local development of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
To achieve these objectives, the transformative axes of San Bartolomé de Tirajana's new 2025-2030 Local Development Strategic Plan are structured into four action plans: as a smart and competitive city, as a green and circular city, as an open and inclusive city, and as a social and cohesive city.
General Account
Also unanimously approved at this plenary session was the General Account of the City Council and its commercial companies for the 2024 financial year, with a consolidated and balanced balance sheet of almost €598 million. The Account was reported on July 29 by the City Council's Special Accounts Committee and passed the public disclosure process without any objections or complaints.
This administration's fixed assets increased by approximately €8 million in 2024, from €263.5 million to almost €271,6 million, and outstanding invoices decreased by almost €15,4 million, from €60,4 million to €45 million. Furthermore, of the nearly €54,8 million outstanding at the beginning of the year, the municipal institution managed to collect almost €11 million, and set revenue commitments from other administrations at just over €7,8 million, which were charged to the 2025 General Budget.
The General Account report also determines that the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council increased its financial assets by almost €23.642.000, going from €254.173.657 at the beginning of 2024 to €277.815.380 at the end of that year.
Sunbeds and umbrellas
Furthermore, during this same session, the plenary also gave its final approval to the updated new prices that will henceforth govern the public service of sun loungers and umbrellas on the municipality's beaches, which was initially approved by the plenary at its meeting on Thursday, June 26. Sun lounger and parasol rentals have increased from €2,5 to €4,5, and the offer has been expanded to include Balinese beds and safes for €15 and €3 per day, respectively.
Housing subsidy
On the other hand, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council approved authorizing the Housing Department to request a nominal grant of €5.956.902 from the Canary Islands Housing Institute (ICAVI) to be used for the construction of 40 public rental homes on plots 7 and 10-S in sector T-4 of El Tablero, both municipally owned and with a total area of 1.855 m².
Social emergencies
Also unanimously approved by the entire municipal council at this plenary session was the City Council's adhesion to the second collaboration agreement to be signed with the Gran Canaria Island Council for the indirect management of emergency social aid in the municipality. The first agreement, signed in 2021, was for a four-year period and expired in December of last year. The new agreement, also for four years, allocates a total of €104.908 to San Bartolomé de Tirajana in 2025 to finance one-off, targeted aid aimed at covering the basic needs of vulnerable individuals and families with limited resources.
Bill Pay
Among the financial matters approved by the plenary session, the recognition of €296.991 in credits for the payment of bills for services such as transportation for users of the Occupational Center, the electricity supply for public lighting and various municipal offices, the maintenance of administrative management software applications, the collection and analysis of water samples, and the repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment for the municipal fleet and public services, among others, stands out. A credit modification was also approved to allocate the €60.000 initially scheduled for Gestur SA, the urban planning management company of the Canary Islands Government, to the organization of the 2025 "Children's Year-End" event.
