On 2 July 2021, Pratdip Town Council holds an ordinary council meeting. Several issues directly affecting Planas del Rey are discussed during the session: the maintenance of streets and green spaces, the review of the urban development project, school transport, public lighting and the increase in waste collection charges.
The most important announcement concerns the appointment of an external technical specialist to examine the development’s infrastructure and update the existing works project.
The information presented in this article is based primarily on a summary written by Glòria Moreno and José Pescador, councillors representing Avança Pratdip. Several of the discussions can also be verified in the video recording of the meeting. The Avança Pratdip document reports the information given during the council meeting, but also expresses the political position of its authors. It is not the official minutes of the council meeting.
A work team announced for the streets of Planas
During the meeting, the Town Council announces that a work team will begin operating in Planas del Rey the following week.
Made up of several people trained to carry out forestry work, the team is expected to work throughout the development, cleaning the streets and clearing vegetation.
The mayor states that cleaning the streets of Planas is one of the priorities assigned to this team. The work is also expected to cover certain areas requiring wildfire-prevention measures.
The Avança Pratdip summary presents this announcement as a sign of improved dialogue between the Town Council and representatives of Planas. This assessment reflects the political position expressed by Glòria Moreno and José Pescador.
Maintenance of green spaces and the irrigation system
The condition of the green spaces is also discussed during the council meeting.
The Town Council says that it intends to organise their maintenance and inspect the existing irrigation system. At that stage, the system still needs to be checked before the necessary work can be determined.
The Avança Pratdip summary mentions the possibility of using the automatic irrigation system or repairing it if necessary. However, no detailed programme of work has yet been established.
The discussions also mention work already carried out in the recreational area, including the removal of damaged equipment and the installation of benches and litter bins.
A technical specialist appointed to review the urban development project
The main information concerning the future of Planas del Rey relates to the review of the urban development project.
When questioned about a municipal contract, the mayor explains that the Town Council has appointed an external technical specialist in urban planning. The specialist is expected to examine the various services and infrastructure in Planas del Rey, assess their condition and determine what work is required.
This assignment is intended to enable the existing works project to be reconsidered and updated.
According to the Avança Pratdip summary, the update could include:
- a review of the estimated cost of the work;
- an assessment of the development’s actual needs;
- planning for the possible implementation of the project in phases.
In July 2021, however, these matters are still under consideration. No timetable, final budget or allocation of costs between the Town Council and property owners is announced during the meeting.
Avança Pratdip states that it intends to request a meeting with the specialist once the study has progressed sufficiently.
Action taken over a dangerous tree
The council meeting also discusses action taken on a private property in Calle Lirio.
A tree in poor condition posed a risk to the public road. After several steps had been taken, the Town Council intervened to remove the danger.
In their summary, Glòria Moreno and José Pescador state that the action followed a request from Avança Pratdip made after several residents had reported the problem.
This case illustrates how the Town Council may intervene when something located on private property presents a danger to a public space, while retaining the possibility of subsequently seeking reimbursement of the costs from the property owner concerned.
The question of school transport
The situation of pupils from Planas del Rey and Pratdip attending school in L’Hospitalet de l’Infant is also discussed.
According to the Avança Pratdip summary, councillor Jordi Pagán expresses his willingness to examine a possible solution for the following school year.
The difficulty arises because these pupils attend a school in L’Hospitalet, whereas the school transport normally allocated to the municipality takes pupils to Mont-roig del Camp.
Avança Pratdip announces its intention to organise a meeting with the families concerned and prepare a request to be submitted to the Town Council.
At this stage, no new transport route or municipal funding arrangement has been approved. The meeting merely indicates a willingness to examine possible solutions.
Discussions about public lighting
The summary also indicates that discussions with the Town Council are continuing concerning electricity and public lighting in Planas del Rey.
Avança Pratdip mentions the involvement of several groups representing property owners, including Unidos, SOS Planas and the former EUCC, which was then undergoing liquidation.
However, the document does not provide details of the negotiations or the solutions being considered. It therefore does not establish that the restoration of public lighting had been approved at that stage.
The increase in waste collection charges
Glòria Moreno and José Pescador also provide an explanation for the increase in the amount charged for waste collection.
According to their summary, the increase had been approved as part of the 2019 municipal budget. It resulted from an increase in the tariff charged by Secomsa to municipalities in the Baix Camp, mainly in connection with the costs arising from insufficient waste separation and recycling.
Avança Pratdip states that this increase applied to the entire municipality of Pratdip and not only to Planas del Rey.
However, the document provides no details about the amount of the increase, how it was calculated or how it was distributed among taxpayers.
A new meeting requested
At the end of the council meeting, Glòria Moreno and José Pescador announce that they have requested a new meeting between the Town Council and the different groups in Planas del Rey.
The purpose of this meeting is to continue discussions about the future of the development and the various problems raised during the session.
The council meeting of 2 July 2021 therefore marks a development in the handling of several local issues. Maintenance work is announced and, most importantly, the Town Council confirms the appointment of a technical specialist to review the urban development project.
At that date, however, the project is still in a study and preparation phase. The final nature of the work, its cost, timetable and funding have yet to be determined.
Jim – La Tribune de Planas
The Avança Pratdip summary
The document reproduced below is the Spanish-language summary written by Glòria Moreno and José Pescador following the council meeting of 2 July 2021. It provides direct access to the main source on which this article is based.
