The ordinary plenary session today has approved, with the votes against the popular municipal group, the suspension throughout the municipality of the processing and granting of licenses to change the use of commercial premises to housing in order to proceed with the study of the modification of urban planning.
The town planning councillor, Juan Manuel del Pino, explained that the suspension of the change of use is motivated by the fact that by removing premises intended for commercial activity from the market, the price of the premises increases and therefore weakens the commercial fabric, and at the same time, the aim is to avoid the dynamic of transforming commercial premises, originally linked to a public use, into tourist dwellings for private use. The suspension will have a temporary duration of two years while possible solutions are studied.
In the debate on this point, Toni Tur of Defend Calpe pointed out that ‘there is housing but there is no public housing, the administration does not provide solutions so that everyone has access to decent housing. The prices are not adapted to the housing reality, this measure is the spearhead but it must be accompanied by other measures and housing policies, we must analyse the areas of commercial premises and the potential of these areas".
Francisco Fernández de Ibarra of the Popular Group added that ‘the right to property is violated and the use of housing is limited when it is very necessary, more participation is needed in this initiative, it should not be an all or nothing, all the premises cannot be converted into housing but others can, analyse the different areas, we must reflect on whether it is better to have a house on the ground floor or a closed commercial premises’.
The spokesman for the socialist group, Guillermo Sendra, stressed that ‘this is a necessary measure, we all agree that we have to tackle a serious problem such as the proliferation of tourist accommodation. The suspension is a technical measure, we are being brave in recognising the problem and looking for solutions".
The Compromís spokesman, Ximo Perles, concluded the debate, adding ‘this proposal is not enough, for the first time housing subsidies have been announced, a sectoral housing committee has been created and today we are bringing this initiative, the City Council is doing what it can and more will be done. There is no ban, there is a temporary suspension, so we ask for patience from citizens while we study the problem".
For her part, the Mayoress pointed out that ‘I want us to have a draft proposal in September or October, we have to balance the lack of housing and the excess of tourist housing and we don't have to wait two years’.
Regulations for the City Council's internal information system
The plenary also gave initial approval to the regulation of the internal information system of the Calpe Town Council so that those included in its subjective scope of application can report actions that may constitute a serious criminal or administrative offence. This is a body for the control and supervision of municipal activity.
The regulation establishes a Whistleblower Channel that can submit information or communications on actions or omissions that may constitute an infringement in the work or professional context of the Calpe Town Council. The channel allows the submission of communications, both anonymous and identified, and guarantees total security and confidentiality. The information submitted must deal with actions or omissions related to the functioning of Calpe Town Council that may constitute the infractions mentioned in the regulations.
Whistleblowers or informants may be public employees of the Town Council, any person working for or under the supervision and direction of contractors, subcontractors or suppliers of the Town Council, persons who report within the framework of an employment, civil servant or statutory relationship that has already ended, volunteers, scholarship holders and workers in training periods regardless of whether or not they receive remuneration. According to the regulations, a person in charge of the system will be appointed by the governing body. Paco Quiles of Defend Calpe has criticised the fact that this person will be appointed by the mayor's office and not by all the municipal groups.
Modification of legal qualification
It has also been approved the modification of the qualification of 70'03 m² on the first floor of the Casa de la Música, these meters will be registered in the registry and subsequently exchanged to the Musical Union for another 50 meters to expand the access to the building where the offices of the Department of Social Welfare are located and thus comply with the rules of access to public buildings.