The new Almuñécar Town Council has approved the creation of a commission for overseeing greater transparency in municipal affairs; i.e., what is being spent and by whom.
The socialist opposition party put the motion forward for such a body to be created and to be operative from 2015 to 2019 (next local elections).
The first Plenary Meeting of the new Town Council also saw the approval of a motion to hold Ordinary Plenary Meeting the last Thursday of each month, which will be held either in the Casa de la Cultura, the Centro Cívico in La Herradura or in the boardroom in the town hall itself.
It was also decided who would be getting a cushy job in the Mancommuidad, as Almuñécar can send four representatives: The Mayor and the First Councillor for La Herrradura (Herrera and Ruiz Joya) for the PP, Juan Carlos Benavides for the PA and the party leader of the socialists, García Alabarce for the PSOE.
Rejecting proposals from the PSOE and PA, the ruling party was able to push through salaries decisions, thanks to the abstention of the IU, which are: 10 councillors will have full-time salaries worth 38.997 euros per annum and the Mayor, 55,000 euros.
Councillors without full-time salaries will get 50 euros (party spokespersons) and 30 euros for normal councillors per commission meeting held. They will also receive 100 euros (party spokespersons) or 50 euros (normal councillors) for attending Plenary Meetings of the Town Council.
Political parties will also receive 400 euros per month, plus 15 euros per councillor. They will also be entitled to a private office, computer and telephone.
Finally, each political party with seats on the Council can also have a secretary; the governing party can have two, all with their corresponding salaries; i.e., 26,518 euros each per annum.
Editorial comment: would somebody like to tell me why Almuñécar needs 21 councillors, ten of whom have full-time salaries?
The town hall is staffed with public functionaries (civil servants) who can carry out all the tasks held by politicians (elected councillors), other than those of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor, so why the doubling up? Jobs for the boys?
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)