95 posts from 2009

Pleno 23.12

The council held a short Pleno on Wednesday 23rd December.

The main business was to discuss the costings for the Town Hall WiFi. A communication had been received from the authorities as to what we should charge for connections. We had a lengthy discussion about the rates to be charged and whether the elderly, students or the poor could have reduced rates. It was agreed that we should give heavily discounted rates, to such people, on proof of their qualification. We also agreed the rates in line with the advice and those shown previously.A start date for the fees ahs not yet beeen agreed but I guess it will be in the New Year. I also asked that we identify wheta periods people could pay for in advance (we don't want to have top pay every month) and that was also agreed.

We also agreed to apply for a loan from the bank and we are also considering changing the bank in which we hold Town Hall funds as currently we do not receive very generous account conditions.

Nothing else of much interest.

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Bird Scarer & It happens to the Spanish too

Called into the Town Hall this morning just to let Andreas know that his phone call on my behalf regarding the 40 euro fine I had received from Granada, and been trying to pay since September, had got a reaction at last. It had prompted a new bill this time for 300 euros. Great!


To let those of you who feel as expats we get picked on spare a thought for the indigenous people. Andreas was given a day off work to go to Almeria at the expense of the Diputacion where he was to be trained ina new computer system that he has been struggling with for the past few weeks. He arrived at 8.45am in heavy rain to be told that it was not starting until 10.0am. So went away and returned at 10.0am only to find everyone else sitting at computers and so he had to sitting the aisle sharing computers with the people at either side. By lunch time he was fed up with it all and had learnt nothing so left to return home. 

A number of people have asked whether there is anything can be done about the bird scarer (that is the thing that makes an explosive sound every few minutes during late autumn). I was told that this was owned by a farmer who deploys it when the olives are almost fully ripened and nearly ready for harvesting. They did not know if there was anything we could do about as it is on private land but we will try and find out.

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Inventory and Bar

I completed the work on the inventory and took it into Salvadores office this morning. We checked off the first few properties and I seem to have done it correctly. He is now going to work through, updating his computer, and will let me know if there are any problems. There were one or two that I have issues about and so I will await his response when he gets to them.


For those of you who have been waiting news of the bar/restaurant which Anthonio, of New Horizons, built at Cuesta de los Pinos, it is now being opened by John Harrison from the corner bar in La Alfoquia, for a News Years Eve party. I believe this party will be starting at 8.30pm. They inform me that they have done sound checks and that it will not cause any noise nuisance to the nearby houses. It will be good to have a nice bar restaurant in this area. Lets hope it is what the local residents will enjoy. 

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Tying Ends Up

I called into see Salvadore yesterday to see how they wanted me to check off the inventory with his records, to ensure it matched. I went down to his office and then discovered that (some of you may recall the reference numbers on the inventory) these numbers are the ones which I needed to assign to each property as they would be the references used for IBI bills when they are eventually able to charge it. So my pages of types up records have to be altered to include and reflect these references accurately. I have managed to do about 75% so far and will try and complete the rest over the weekend so that I can take him the fully updated list with all references and nos and alterations Monday morning.


I suppose it is worth informing everyone that his records, which are far more in depth than that which is shown on the inventory has included all the properties that were, so far, missing. Which is a relief to those whose properties were not shown on the draught inventory.

I provided the Town Hall with my holiday dates and low and behold within 2 hours I received a telephone call to say that they want to hold a Pleno the day I fly out of the country. At least they are to hold it early enough in the day for me to attend before I leave! I understand the urgency for this is to agree applications for various loans to allow the Town Hall to carry out certain works.

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Hard Work soon

I have now visited or had emailed all the queries re the inventory and have noted all the alterations and inclusions we need to make to reflect the state of all the areas. This will be the hardest part of the work.

I hope to sit down with Salvadore later this week and make a start. I will post as we make progress. Hope to complete it before Xmas as we are returning to the UK for a quick visit.

Thanks to those who were able to get to see the inventory. I fully appreciate the frustration of those in the UK but where possible I have tried to check the details of those who have asked. I hope all those who now know their new proper addresses start to use them as soon as they feel comfortable about doing so as I sure it will benefit us especially should there be a need for the emergency services.

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Inventory

So far we have visited the areas of Llanos del Peral, Los Carasoles, Palaces, Cucador, Cuesta de los Pinos and Los Menchones. Somewhere in the region of 150 to 200 people have been able to check the inventory and what is shown on their particular plot. I have to say I was a bit disappointed to find quite so many omissions but that was the purpose of doing this. To allow individuals to check what is shown and subsequently for me to try and get these alterations included before the inventory is submitted. It has also of course allowed individuals to see what their correct house number is.


I suspect this is going to be the more difficult bit of work but will try and tie Salvadore down a few days over the next two weeks to get it sorted.

I am doing one more catch up day for anyone who has not been able to make the previous dates. I will be at home from 10.0am this coming Monday 14th December until about 2.0pm.

I live on Calle Holanda on the Cuesta de los Pinos developement opposite the new bar restaurant that Anthonio of New Horizons built betwen Cucador and Llanos del Peral.

Any problem or questions please email me at jiminysimpson@gmail.com or ring 661147554.

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NHW Meeting 30.11

We held the AGM for the NHW last night in the Renfe building in La Alfoquia and I was very pleased that we had such a good turnout on such a cold evening. Just short of 100 people attended and I hope they went away happy with the way their scheme is going. It the last night under the chairmanship of Mike Foulkes, after four years. Without Mike the scheme would not have got off the ground and he was heartily applauded for his time and work. Many of the attendees made donations to the schemes fund and heard what and how the money is used for. My, and the committees, thanks to those who did.


As I had hoped Candido did come long and spent over an hour answering questions from the floor about the PGOU, IBI and other matters. 

I had thought long and hard about asking him, because of the fact that this was not a Political meeting but a NHW meet. However, I felt that it was going to be a good opportunity for our members to question and assess the responses from the Mayor himself, rather than the answers I give on here, in personal discussions and emails. I hope people found it informative.

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Inventory Dates and Flamenco Changed

This being Spain I thought I had better warn anyone thinking of going to the history of Flamenco show in the theatre in Zurgena tomorrow night that it is now to be held at 8.0pm tonight. Hey Ho!


Regarding the inventory we had the first day of viewings at my house yesterday and had a reasonably good turn out which did, in fact, prove the worth of doing it, as we found many examples of homes not on, plots missing, pools missing etc. So at least I can make sure that over the next few weeks Salvadore incorporates all these features and facts into the document and makes it as accurate as possible.

I then went to a Pleno meeting today and  after the meeting, which was primarily to do with administrative things I talked to Candido and Salvadore about the errors. They said that that was good as the more accurate we can make it the better. They did compile it from developers/builders plans but they were aware that there would be bits missing. I had a very seriious request to change the name of one of the streets, due to the only occupant having a very good reason for such a request and they told me I could make the change but that this was an exception.
 We then had a lengthy discussion about the way I had altered the numbers on the plan and after the discussion we agreed a way forward. It is my intention (provisionally) to do the following dates at the following locations,

Wednesday 2nd December Palaces (at the home of Ken Cross)
Thursday 3rd December Llanos del Peral (at the home of Brian Reade)
Monday 7th December Los Menchones ( at the home of John Chalmers)
Wednesday 9th December Los Carasoles (at the home of Bernard Dyson, not yet confirmed)
Thursday 10th December Mena houses and Cucador (at the home of Derek Weeks)
Monday 14th December catch up day at my house in Cuesta de los Pinos
If necessary a further catch up day at the Town Hall during that week but I will see if that is needed.

Start time 10.30am each day and I will stay until between 1.0pm and 2.0pm depending on what is needed.

My thanks to those (mostly NHW coordinators) for allowing me the use of their homes.

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Meeting with Residents & Cuesta de Los Pinos Numbering

I was present this morning at a meeting between the Mayor and the residents association from La Alfoquia and there were a few things that came out worthy of passing on.


Firstly as we roll out people's new street numbers they are strongly advised to use them. The Town Hall have said that they will give people until the end of the year to renumber their properties before they will put stickers or tiles up with the correct numbers on. Apparently it is causing confusion in the areas where they have already assigned the new numbers and some house are showing the correct new numbers an others only the old plot numbers. Please, if you have new numbers display them.

The reason the street cleaning machine hasn't been out is die to it waiting a new part. It has been bust for 6 months! 

The problem of street lighting in La Alfoquia should be resolved in the next 2 weeks.

The gymnasium in La Alfoquia should be finished in the next week or two but water and electric will have to be applied for but it is hoped to be completed by Xmas. The gym will be open to the public but the council need to agree the entry prices etc in pleno.

The redirection of the main road traffic through the town will persist for about 6 to 7 months. As an aside the mayor informed us that the motorway A92 was supposed to be finished in 1992 (hence A92) but that it wasn't finished until 2003 so he didn't want to try and guess when the works will be finished!

Outside of the meeting with the residents I discovered that the new picnic area up near the spring past Llanos del Peral, by the turning for Limaria, is to be inaugurated in a week or two. The detail of how that will be celebrated will be communicated.

Candido, and the man he met yesterday from the Land Registry at Huercal Overa, are to jointly approach the Junta in an effort to be able to raise IBI bills. The financial situation for the Town Hall, as is known by readers of this blog, is getting increasingly dire and into 2010 without extra funds we will have to lay off  even more staff.

Regarding the house numbering I have had clarification from the Town Hall as to how they want this rolling out and how they can try and register people against the correct properties. I am proposing doing a few hours a day at each location. I will start with my own developement at Cuesta de los Pinos this Thursday 26th from 10.30am until 1.30pm. Anyone wishing to obtain their house number should call down at my house between the hours shown and they can a) get their house number and b) ensure that what is shown on the inventory is correct. I have already found a few inconsistencies. If you know of any of your neighbours who may not get this message please let them know.

I will try and organise dates to visit each of the other areas and do likewise over the next few weeks. I am hoping to use the coordinators (from NHW) houses and will be contacting them to sort out. I do  not have NHW coordinators though for the following areas Los Menchones and the Mena houses near Cucador. If anyone reading this blog is willing to let me use a bit of their house for a couple of hours please let me know.


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Success - Only Partly

Following my discussions with Candido last week I went and bought a new USB Flash drive, with which to obtain the full inventory from Salvadore. I foolishly thought it would be an easy matter to get the information.


I called into the Town Hall at 11.0am but I was told Salvadore was not yet in his office, round the corner from the Town Hall. He said he would be back in half an hour. I was advised to treat that as an hour and a half. So went home and rang back at 1.10pm. He was in his office so I drove back to the Town Hall. Firstly waiting for Candido but he got tied up with another official so I went myself to Salvadores office. Downloaded the full inventory onto my flash drive and identified the programme used as Auto Cad. Followed him back to the Town Hall where I hoped I could get a copy of the programme but missed my opportunity as Candido and Salvadore then became involved in what I was told was a more important meeting with a representative from the Huercal Overa office of the Land Registry. Apparently they are trying to reach agreement on how the Land Registry notifies the Town Hall of house sales so that the Town Halls can collect any taxes due and this official was only available today. I asked Andreas how much this tax was and he said it was very complicated (why am I not surprised) and had to be calculated on various factors.

So I returned home one stage closer. I have the full inventory on a flash drive and I will try and find a programme to allow me to view Auto Cad but if any of you, out there, has a copy, I could use, I would be grateful. It may be necessary for me to work on this in the Town Hall but if I can find a way to do it at home I will and, as soon as I do, I will post on here and we will be able to issue everyone's house numbers and for those who wish to check what is shown I will try and find a way to do that. The other complication is I run an Apple Mac as my main computer but I do have an old laptop on Windows XP.

UPDATE>>

I have managed to get a programme which allows me to view all the maps and so I can start to issue people's house numbers. It may be more difficult than I thought as I have not yet found a way to print the pages on the trial version software I am using but if in the meantime if you need your street number please email me with sufficient information to enable me to identify your property and I will try and supply it. I am not at liberty to provide copies of the maps as they have to remain the property of the council at this stage.
The maps cover all the municipality.
I will try and find a way of rolling out the information,probably by doing a few hours in each locality. I will post when I have thought it out.

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