Sitges Reference: a ruinous operation

The City Hall of Sitges submitted to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor all the necessary documentation concerning the process of award, construction and management of the Sitges Reference building. The alleged irregularities that have been committed in this operation, and all the obvious errors in all the planning and management functions of the building, are the main reasons why this sad affair is now a hot item in all the media.

 The building was promoted and built by a company participated by 50% by the City Hall, with the goal of installing business offices in Sitges. The original intention of the initiative was correct, but the process was erratic from the start, both in development and in its subsequent management. Such statements can be highlighted by the fact that no company from Sitges or from outside chose the building to install their operations, among other factors, because the prices offered by the company were much higher those offered by the market (at that time Real Estate had not collapsed yet as in recent months).

 Back in the day, the groups that integrate the current government of the New Majority, back then in the opposition, denounced the relocation of most municipal facilities in the Sitges Reference building just because they did not find any company interested in installing their offices there. Such relocation was carried out under erroneous terms and dismalling economic conditions for the already floundering municipal finances. 

And the City Hall, as a result of this decision, had to assume an absurd and overly exaggerated monthly payment. This decision, taken by the previous municipal government, was the last drop in an endless a chain of planning errors (a flagrant demonstration that the goal of Sitges Reference was never achieved and was a total failure) and a disaster in economic terms (as it meant that the City Council had to pay rent for their own property). Worst of all is that now we're paying the consequences.

 As soon as we could access all information through the municipal company acting as holding company, Sitges Model XXI SA, we could perceive that the confusion did not stop there. The financial audit conducted a few months ago to know in detail the state of municipal finances, their procedures and external reports, detected a budget deviation of 2.3 million Euros in the construction of this building, and a 40% surcharge on the rental agreement signed between the sponsoring company and the city for the employment of space. For these reasons and others that show the disastrous consequences of this operation, the Board of the municipal company Sitges Model XXI SA adopted at its last meeting the decision to submit the project to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor.

 The Governing Body has kept and maintained throughout this process, an attitude of institutional loyalty and respect for justice in their proceedings. We will not use this issue in a partisan way (if this had been our intention, the process of complaint would have been different), but obviously we will be consistent with our policy of a rational and responsible use of public money.

 The most obvious contrast in comparison with the policy of irrational spending undertaken by the previous Socialist Government was made patent yesterday, with the transfer of the Citizen’s Service Office (OAC) to Carrer Nou, to a building owned by the City Hall that will allow us to save an unnecessary expense.

Tourism: the driving force of our economy

This week, Fitur, the main tourism fair of the State, opens in Madrid. A meeting point for professionals and industry players and a place that gathers businesses, operators, destinations and media specialized in the tourist industry. Sitges will be there. And Sitges will sport its own profile covered by the new Costa de Barcelona trademark, a brand that gathers all tourist destinations near the capital.

The municipal government of Sitges is committed to strengthen its profile and touristic offer, everything included within a framework of quality. From the Municipal Government of Sitges and its Tourist Agency, we have enabled lines of work aimed at strengthening our brand; attract new markets, promoting the position as organizers of conferences and conventions. We also want to take full advantage of the media coverage of the many events organized in our town, like the Film Festival, Carnival and Corpus, among many others.

Tourism is and must remain the driving force of Sitges. For this reason, we must ensure that its development is harmonious, but at the same time equipped with the necessary resources that contribute to their full implementation. In this line, and working together with the Industry, we are exploring all the possibilities that could be beneficial to the municipality. Among the many existing possibilities are the condition of Sitges as cultural capital, the promotion of our festivals and development of senior tourism, strengthening of retail trade or the possibility of turning the port of Vilanova into a cruise destination, a fact that will benefit us directly. The last option is the goal of a project that we have initiated together with the City Hall of Vilanova, and that will be completed by the NodeGarraf Development Agency.

The recent approval of the Costa de Barcelona trademark, in which we are integrated, is destined to become a new driving force for the promotion and development of tourism in our town. Internationally, at fairs and among tourist operator,  the name "Barcelona" is endowed with a special power that will contribute to the promotion and positioning of Sitges. We want to appear under this umbrella. We are already under its cover and, dare I say, Sitges has important prominence which is the result of many years of work, efforts and strategies that have made our town into a first category destination, but we must gain strenght to adapt to changing times.

For this reason, it is essential that the overnight rate, currently under preparation by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, should have a direct bearing on the finances of tourist municipalities. Sitges, like other towns that attract a large number of visitors, takes care of a package of public services expenditures that must be partially assumed by the users, in this case, the visitors.

L'AGNÈS DE SITGES IS NOW CLOSER. Last week we announced that the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia) has agreed to allocate an initial sum of 600,000 Euros for the construction of the school Agnes de Sitges in the budget for 2012, expected to be approved in the coming weeks. With this initial investment, construction could begin this year. We find ourselves at the beginning of the end of the prefabricated modules that have occupied this school during the last seven years. Today, Monday 16 January, I am happy to celebrate this news, an issue that we have dealt directly with the Education Department of the Catalonian Autonomous Government. The same day that we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the school Miquel Utrillo, a major step forward in education during the first years of democracy in Sitges.

Tax Containment

We have just started 2012, and in Sitges, just like in the rest of the country and much of the Western world, the prospects show a difficult year that will require new sacrifices. The situation is critical; therefore, we require measures that are often unpleasant, but necessary nonetheless. However, the municipal government is fully aware of the difficult situation of many families in Sitges that is why we chose to apply a moderate and contained tax policy, right in the middle way of other similar municipalities. In this regard, I will take advantage of my first blog post in 2012 to make different notes and reflections on some of the recent measures.

Property Tax (IBI). Despite the fragile situation of municipal finances, the governing body has rejected the possibility of increasing property tax that would alleviate the debt burden. We understand that doing otherwise would not have been an appropriate measure in the current situation, since it would have hurt even more the pockets of many families.

The only increase in property tax in 2012 was the one corresponding to the CPI adjustment. In this regard, I want to answer some incorrect information and stress that Property Tax (IBI) does not include garbage collection fee: by no means a tax can be charged on another tax. The public should know that the City Hall covers an important part of the garbage collection fee, to avoid citizens from taking the full burden of such a tax.

Moreover, with the aim of fostering civic responsibility, the City Council is preparing a package of subsidies to encourage recycling among citizens. Such subsidies will be announced during the coming weeks. Nurseries. I am fully aware that the situation in such centers is complicated. The wage reductions of workers due to the irregular and irresponsible management of the former government does not foster an ideal working environment, but I want to recognize the professionalism of this team, that despite the sacrifices they have had to make, still maintain their spirit of service.

We were forced to increase fees in those centers because the previous government did not apply the CPI adjustment hike. That is, the fact that fees of nurseries was frozen during recent years, when the dire conditions of our local economy did not advise it, has disguised our update as an increase. However, it should be emphasized that the current prices of municipal nurseries are fully in tune with the rest of the region, and users from Sitges do not pay more than they should. In addition, the City Council of Sitges is ensuring that the13 and 14 educators from our nurseries will remain in the staff, although the ratios of the Catalonian Autonomous Government stipulate 10 workers according to classrooms and children.

EL RUSC. The decision to close the El Rusc Open Centre was motivated by a double cause: first, the authorized undertaking announced the cessation of services, and secondly, the gradual decline of users placed this center at absolutely untenable levels. When the number of users is so low, as was the case of El Rusc, it is difficult to maintain an investment that proved too much for municipal finances. It should be noted here that the services rendered by El Rusc, although not in identical form, can be provided by the toy libraries of Esteve Barrachina and Miquel Utrillo.

In every case, we are dealing here with measures that have a common link: the need to rationalize investments and expenses, and the reduction of the very large debt that burdens our municipal finances. The government of The New Majority, despite atrocious legacy left by the former government, will never abandon its duties and responsibilities. The New Majority will continue their hard work to find the right balance between the gradual recoveries of municipal accounts, while maintaining the necessary services to all the citizens of Sitges.

Looking for new opportunities

We are on the threshold of a new year, a tough and difficult year both from a local and international standpoint. This year, however, we cannot give up and we will need all our physical and mental energy to move forward. The turn of the year does not coincide with a cyclical change, since all forecasts for 2012 indicate that the complicated situation that we experienced in 2011 will stick with us until next year. However, although the picture is markedly difficult, the government of the New Majority will face 2012 with courage and confidence. We know that positive results will come only if we approach our goals with hard work, faith and hope.

2011 was a year of adjustments and sacrifices. From a strictly local perspective, such adjustments were just part of the absolutely essential measures taken by the City Council. The adverse economic legacy we received left us no other possible option if we wanted to maintain the provision of basic municipal services. The frail state of municipal finances is the result of a very irresponsible policy. Such a policy involved spending beyond our means, accumulating an unsustainable debt in the process. As a result of this policy, the adjustments were the only way to save the ship and return to a safe port. This is our bearing and our goal.

However, the last six months of 2011 were also an opportunity for the new municipal government to improve management processes, restore harmony with cultural, social and economic organizations and work on projects and initiatives that will come to fruition during the near future.

In times of restricted investments such as today, it is time to find imaginative ways to get new resources. The Municipal Government is working tirelessly to achieve this goal, and I have no doubts whatsoever those favorable results are around the corner.

This is the line that we are implementing, for example, with the school Agnes of Sitges. We are obtaining the involvement of different organizations to ensure the construction of facilities. Not an easy task, but we are nearer to the goal than a few months ago.

Also, in the field of economic development, 2012 will witness how all the work done in an efficient and constant manner during the closing year will come to fruition. We are working to create ways of collaboration between public and private sectors, to contribute to socio-economic promotion and to the creation of new business opportunities. The success of the meeting with the unemployed, held on 13 December, will be applied to different economic sectors, in order to jointly study and implement measures that promote employment, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities...

In short, 2012 will not witness the solutions for the large amount of problems that have been piling up for years, but present new opportunities for dialogue and confidence in our possibilities. Let's take advantage of those opportunities!
Happy New Year

Christmas Time

We are in the previous days of Christmas. Just along the Town's Festival and Saint George's Day, Christmas has been and is one of the most important dates in my private calendar. From my early childhood, when Christmas approaches I become immersed in a special sensation that combines the magic of happiness, certain flair of melancholy and an invitation to reflection on the people and society that we are in condition of correcting and improving, both individually and collectively.

This year's Christmas is special. For me, this is the first Christmas as Mayor of Sitges, the first Christmas in which I’m performing a prime responsibility in the management of the municipality. A task that fills me with pride, but at the same time I feel an enhanced sense of responsibility.

The situation of extreme economic hardship suffered by many people today makes this Christmas a new opportunity to rethink the values ​​of our society. Often overly influenced by uncurbed and alienating consumerism, Christmas has lost somewhat  its real meaning in our society: the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a celebration of love, faith, joy and a great opportunity to meet with your family and the people you love and you share your life with.

Last week, during a meeting with one hundred unemployed in Sitges, I had the opportunity to share with people who are suffering as no one among us the hardest and critical aspects of the crisis. People who struggle to find a job, people that must make their way to overcome the obstacles that are the unfortunate characters of personal tragedies. Those are the people to whom I want to address in a more significant way during the celebration of Christmas: I wish that these days of spiritual joy and family meetings are also days of hope and light.

I will take advantage of these lines to invite everybody in Sitges to participate in the traditional Christmas events that we hold in our town. The exhibition of nativity scenes and dioramas, the representation of "Pastorets" (Nativity play), concerts or Christmas Park, among others, are a demonstration that among us Christmas is alive, a tradition that endures and strengthens its meaning.

I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I wish you good health and a better 2012.

Fight unemployment and promote economic activities: target priorities

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we arranged a meeting with the unemployed in Sitges. In half-hour sessions and accompanied by the Councilor for Employment, Business and Economic Initiatives, Ferran Ignasi Llombart, I will meet with the unemployed  in Sitges in order to know their situation, which, no doubt, will be useful for our policies for actions shared by the public and private sectors. At the same time, the event will also be a good opportunity to transmit them the programs at our disposal. This is an initiative integrated into the programs for developing and supporting employment and the task we have activated at the City Council, whose target is to contribute to the economic recovery and employment creation in our municipality.

The current critical economic situation channels much of the efforts and energies of the municipal government. The economy and employment are the main concern of citizens and governments, and we, as public administrators, must respond to the needs and expectations of citizens. What can the City Council do in this regard?

The municipal authorities have no jurisdiction in matters of employment. In fact, it is still the Spanish state that should activate appropriate plans, many of which are parallel to the planning and development of macroeconomic and fiscal measures at national level. However, City Councils also have tools and policies at their avail that can contribute to the stimulation of the local economy.

For this reason, the “Centre d'Iniciatives Econòmiques Nivell 10” (NICIES NIVEL 10) (Centre of Economic Activities Level 10) ascribed to our City Council, has different lines for supporting the unemployed, entrepreneurs and businesses in the town. The services of awareness towards entrepreneurship are intended to stimulate the creative capacity of young people in their inclusion in the labor market. Information, orientation and assessment services facilitate the task of entrepreneurs and contribute with structural support. The consolidation services assist in the dissemination of the projects already established. And training programs is an excellent tool to provide content to companies in the development of management skills, negotiation, planning and strategic thinking.

The "Centre d'Empreses Creatives de Sitges" (Creative Business Centre of Sitges), the SME incubator inaugurated two weeks ago in the old design center under the initiative of the previous government team, was the last tool provided by the City Council to facilitate the task entrepreneurs and contribute their bit to promote employment and economic revitalization.

Night of Sitges Awards 2011

Last Friday, we held the fourteenth edition of the “Night of Sitges Awards” at Casino Prado Suburense. It was a joyful event that brought recognition to winners; it was also an event of complicity thanks to the union of efforts and initiatives, and also of trust in the future, notwithstanding our current situation. Because culture, in all its dimensions, is one of the features that best defines Sitges. Next, I'll reproduce the intervention I made at the closing ceremony.

"Councillors, awardees, representatives of organizations, good night everyone.

The event we have just experienced, the awards to the world of culture, is the best reflection of our collective reality. A reality that makes Sitges a town that loves culture. All this is possible thanks to the combined efforts of many individuals and groups who, during many years, have outlined a way to do things that those here today have inherited, but we also have the merit of pampering and building it every day.

I think that one of our main strong points is the ability to combine tradition with innovation. The preservation of older signs of identity, while granting room for innovation, but especially, we have accepted and pampered all those that found in Sitges a place to work for culture.

During this night, the disciplines that received awards were folklore, photography, music, painting, sculpture and literature. Most of these awards were made possible thanks to the initiative of promoters, organizations, families and people who believe in culture and wish to keep it alive.

And as the Alderwoman declared, our local Administration also believes in culture in all of their manifestations. We believe that we must take care of all those that promote it, but above all, we must place culture at the reach of everybody.

We are all going through difficult times-families, organizations and administration, we must advance with fewer resources. And probably, many of you gathered here think that culture is at risk in times of crisis.

But I want to tell you that we will work to avoid such trend in Sitges. And I am stating this because I understand that, although culture requires financial resources, in a town like Sitges we can continue our cultural advancement. It is quite obvious that we can always plan for the improvement of cultural facilities, offer a wider range of training courses or add more space to develop any and all cultural disciplines. But it is also true that we often waste what we have.

Therefore, it is just about time to optimize existing resources and make them available to everyone. This is something that has already happened. We will work to obtain resources that will allow us to improve both private and public facilities. The theater where we are tonight is an example. We will work with the aim of obtaining resources for the refurbishment of this wonderful theater.

We will pamper and preserve our cultural heritage. We will work as quickly as possible so we can enjoy our museums again. Our museums must remain being a cultural flagship for our entire nation. We will work for the recovery of other areas such as Can Falç.

But now, more than ever, we must work together to bring out the wisdom, talent and loyalty that transformed Sitges into a cultural reference.

Miquel Marzal, Joan Iriarte, Quartet Octavia, Victor Sicard, Yolanda Martín, Rafel Gascón, Hospital de San Juan Bautista, Mònica Zgustovà, Rosa Muntané and Bibioteca Popular Rusiñol: again, my sincerest congratulations, and above all, my special thanks for your help to bond the name of Sitges with the world of culture. "