In a significant step towards fulfilling campaign promises, the municipal government has announced that the cleaning services for buildings belonging to the Foundations of Sports and Culture will be remunicipalized starting next year.

Years of Negotiations Culminate in Agreement

After years of negotiations and tensions between the Socialist Party and the United Left, a historic agreement has been reached to begin the recovery of externalized municipal services. The first contract to undergo this transformation will be the one affecting the cleaning of municipal buildings.

… the recovery of some externalized municipal services could begin at the beginning of next year. The first contract that is in the remverge of would be the one that affects the cleaning of municipal buildings belonging to the Foundations of Sports and Culture.

Resolving Past Disputes

The contract in question, worth 1.9 million euros, had previously sparked a crisis between the socialists and the then coalition of IU and Podemos. Originally awarded for a year, it is set to expire next February. However, doubts linger about whether the change can be executed by then, or if the contract will need to be extended.

• Scheduled change would mark a significant achievement for United Left, fulfilling a key government objective.
• Auxiliary Services Company is set to assume more services previously handled by external companies.

Preparing for Transition

Before the change can be implemented, two key steps need to be completed. Firstly, the statutes of the municipal company must be modified to enable it to take on additional functions. Secondly, a manager must be hired to oversee the increased workload.

While the hiring process was initially delayed, it is now expected to proceed in the coming days, with candidates to be evaluated and selected thereafter. Concurrently, the new statutes are being finalized, slated for voting in the next plenary session in October.

Appointment of a New Manager

The hiring of a new manager, crucial for the successful management of the increased workload, has been a key demand of the United Left. This appointment is expected to mark the end of the current term, representing a significant milestone for the Left-wing coalition.

This hiring process should have started in early summer, but has been delayed. It is expected that the square will be convened “in the next few days.” After that, the candidates should still be valued and select one. In parallel, the new statutes are finalized, which are expected to vote in the next plenary session in October.

Left-Wing Demands Fulfilled

Several key demands of the Left-wing coalition have been addressed in the agreement reached in July 2023, following the municipal elections. Both formations signed a commitment to modify the statutes of the municipal company to enable it to take over new services. Additionally, they agreed to reinforce maintenance brigades and improve the Parks and Gardens Brigade’s intervention abilities.

While the road to this agreement has been challenging, with setbacks such as the re-tendering of the contract last year, the situation appears to have been redirected. The path towards the recovery of these services, including subcontracted personnel, is now expected to begin in the coming months, with the services to depend on a municipal public company.

FAQ

What services are being remunicipalized?

The cleaning services for buildings belonging to the Foundations of Sports and Culture.

When will the changes come into effect?

The transition is expected to begin at the start of next year.

Did you know?

This agreement marks a significant step towards fulfilling the Left-wing coalition’s historical demands since their time in the opposition.