On 18 February 2018, the Planas Collaboration Group organises a new information meeting in Planas del Rey.
This time, two representatives of the PSC in Pratdip, José Maria Rovira and Amadeo, are invited to meet property owners and present their position on the situation in the development.
Around fifty property owners attend the meeting.
The meeting takes place just a few weeks after the water crisis in early January and following the presentation of eight motions concerning several problems affecting Planas del Rey.
In simple terms: the aim of the meeting is to find out where the PSC stands on these requests and on the investments the party believes are needed in Planas.
A meeting attended by around fifty property owners
Abraham Ruiz opens the meeting and explains that it will be conducted mainly in Spanish.
To ensure that everyone can follow the discussions, translations are provided:
- into English by Abraham Ruiz;
- into German by Evelyne Planet;
- into French by Martine Belgeonne.
José Maria Rovira then speaks on behalf of the PSC.
The PSC believes more money should be invested in Planas
José Maria Rovira begins his intervention with a very critical assessment of the situation in Planas del Rey, which he describes as “chaos”.
He argues that a larger share of municipal resources should be invested in the development.
According to the figures he presents during the meeting, these investments could come in particular from:
- a share of the IBI property tax paid by Planas property owners;
- grants linked to the proximity of the nuclear power plant;
- funding from the Diputació de Tarragona.
José Maria Rovira suggests that the amount available could reach approximately €250,000 per year.
This figure corresponds to the estimate presented by the PSC representative during the meeting. The meeting report does not include budgetary documents that would allow this calculation to be verified.
Examples of municipal intervention are discussed
To support the idea that the Town Council can intervene in developments within the municipality, José Maria Rovira gives several examples.
He mentions, among other things, approximately €7,000 in financial assistance for a damaged pump in Santa Marina, as well as an intervention by the municipal maintenance team to repair a water leak in the Les Sorts area.
He therefore questions why, in his view, similar interventions could not also be carried out in Planas del Rey.
Here again, this is the argument put forward by José Maria Rovira during the meeting.
Òscar Serrano presents the eight motions
The discussion then turns to the eight motions submitted by Òscar Serrano to Pratdip Town Council on 18 January 2018.
José Maria Rovira says that he has not yet seen them.
Òscar Serrano then gives him a copy and presents the different issues they address:
- the water network;
- the wastewater treatment plant;
- electrical installations;
- abandoned plots;
- processionary caterpillars;
- the waste collection area;
- green areas and communal spaces;
- public liability insurance.
Òscar Serrano asks the PSC to support these proposals when they are considered by the municipal council.
The PSC announces that it will support the eight motions
After reviewing the documents, José Maria Rovira announces that the PSC councillors will support all eight motions.
He considers that several of them concern urgent problems and should be examined quickly by the municipal council.
Òscar Serrano then asks what will happen if the proposals are not included on the agenda of the next council meeting.
José Maria Rovira replies that, in that case, the PSC will request an extraordinary council meeting so that the proposals can be debated.
At this stage, therefore, this is a political commitment announced publicly during the meeting. Subsequent events will show how these proposals are actually dealt with by the Town Council.
The proposed water-management arrangement with Comaigua concerns some participants
The issue of water also returns during the discussions.
Gloria Moreno expresses concern about the proposed agreement with Comaigua that the Town Council was then considering for the management of the water service in Planas del Rey.
She believes that the proposed terms would be unfavourable to property owners.
This intervention comes in the wake of the January 2018 water crisis, which had highlighted continuing disagreements over the management and maintenance of Planas’ internal water network.
The liquidation of the EUCC also remains unresolved
A property owner then asks the PSC representatives about the liquidation of the EUCC.
José Maria Rovira acknowledges that, at that time, he does not have precise information about the progress of the procedure.
The issue therefore remains unresolved during the meeting.
Antonio Polo calls for caution
Antonio Polo also speaks and recalls the attitude of previous municipal administrations led by the PSC.
He explains that former mayor Josep Montané had, according to him, always stated that investments made in Planas were essentially limited to grants received specifically for that purpose.
He therefore encourages property owners to remain cautious about the commitments announced during the meeting.
His intervention provides a different perspective and serves as a reminder that political promises must ultimately be compared with the decisions taken and the work actually carried out.
Political disagreement with the municipal majority
José Maria Rovira also criticises the management of the municipal majority led by CiU.
According to him, the commitments made to Unidos por Planes del Rei had not been fulfilled.
This statement forms part of the political context of the time: Unidos por Planes del Rei had been part of the municipal majority before leaving it in 2017.
What should be remembered
The meeting of 18 February 2018 represents another stage in the discussions surrounding the future of Planas del Rey.
Several important points emerge:
- around fifty property owners attend the meeting;
- the PSC believes that more municipal resources should be invested in Planas;
- Òscar Serrano presents the eight motions submitted on 18 January to the PSC representatives;
- José Maria Rovira announces that the PSC will support all eight proposals;
- he also says that an extraordinary council meeting could be requested if they are not considered quickly;
- some participants nevertheless express reservations concerning water management and the political commitments being announced.
In simple terms: on 18 February 2018, the PSC publicly expresses its support for the eight motions concerning Planas del Rey. The meeting does not resolve any of the issues raised, but it clearly establishes the political position of the group at that time.
Martine Belgeonne
