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Details of Pleno, Points of interest & Fiesta

The Pleno was held this morning as usual 15 minutes late! 

Point 1 was merely administrative in ensuring that we got the business done today.
2. Was the really urgent reason for the meeting. It was to approve the list ofor houses within the municipality which qualify for financial assistance for renovations. Apparently this is an annual thing but the Junta had been delaying things and we nearly ran out of time to get the finaces for these renovations.
3. Was approval for the solar farm at Palaces. All licences had been granted but it required formal approval by the Pleno to go ahead.
4. Approval for the funds to assist the gypsy community integrate.
We then, as usual adjourned to the bar where I asked for a coffee but as usual was given a beer or two! It has become routine for this to be the best time for me to ask questions and get an understanding of what is happening. 
Firstly I asked about the progress of the investigation and was given many facts. The Guardia Civil and the Fiscal are continuing their investigations. So far they have interviewed 23 people last week. The summary of the investigation now runs to 300 pages and is not yet complete. They have now started to ask Snr. Caparros the man in charge of building and public works for information and given that he is our biggest enemy we cannot see him providing any positive information although it is becoming apparent that the informations being laid before the courts now do refer to the norms and urban neucleus which they previously did not. This makes the old statements contradictory and adds more evidence for the Town Hall.
I asked whether this case would heve any bearing on all the outstanding ones which the junta had already referred to the courts and was told that it would not. He said that they would all have to take their course although the courts take evidence fom other cases. I was told that at this moment in time all the cases were still awaiting court hearings. Those which had altready been found in the Town Halls favour had been appealed by the Junta dn the few that had found for the junta had been appealed by the Town Hall.
They are proposing using examples in other municipalities to highlight more blatant breeches of planning laws and they are also trying to bring Caparros before the courts for his illegal actions including the Prior's case at Vera. I was told that they had had a Pleno at Vera last night which lasted 15 hours! The subject for discussion was Caparros and how to get him before a court. They were not in a position to day what had taken the time but I am sure it would be how to tackle Caparros.
I then asked when we could proceed with submission of the project we had previously discussed. This included lots of street lighting on public roads and renovations etc. I was told that the junta are using their stalling tactics on this as well, however, he was able to give me a bit of good news and that was that due to the fact the junta had not given us permission for a roundabout in La Alfoquia we had the lighting and tarmac left over and we would use that to light and surface the road in Palaces in the next few months. We did not need the junta's permission for that.
I was told that Candido expected me to be at the Palaces fiesta which is on tomorrow (Saturday 31st May) at 2.0pm with free food and beer. I explained that I was down in Almeria but would try and get back in time although I was reliant on friends to get me back.
I asked about the street signs and he again apologised and said he did not know when they would get them fixed.
I again asked about the Polizia Local and was told that they actually pass out on 29th June and we will sit down after that date to sort their hours and  things out.
I was given some information to assist one of our residents sort his water supply out.
I asked about the residents of Cuesta de los Pinos who do not yet have licences of 1st occupation and he was surprised. He asked me to obtain copies from anyone in that situation in that area of their completion of works and building permits and we would look to see what the problem was.
I had also received, some 10 days ago, a letter from the AUAN wanting to hold a meeting in Zurgena and, as a councillor I can get use of the municipal theatre. Candido also said I should ensure that I attend as a politician. What does that mean!!
It looks like we will just have to keep plodding on and trying to get things done but that everything proves very difficult when the Junta employs such blocking tactics to our business.


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May Pleno

Well something is happening at last. I have just taken delivery from the Polizia Local (at 1930 hours) of my notice of a Pleno meeting to be held tomorrow morning at 10.30am.


I have interpreted the order of the day as follows;

1. Approval of the declaration of emergency.
2. Approval of the preferential relation of successful and unsuccessful applications in relation to the Autonomic Programme of house building. I think this is in relation to the affordable housing plan.
3. Approval of the draft project presented by Da Josefa Martinez Ramos. Ido not know which project this is althought I would like to think it is the big project covering roads and lighting but I am not sure.
4. Application for the instigation for the equality and social benefits for the realisation of activities for the integration of the romany community.

I will of course up date this with the actual discussions.

I do not know whether I will get an opportunity to speak with Candido after the meeting, but I hope to do, as I have a number of outstanding issues. 

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Parking & Police

Nothing doing at the Town Hall at the moment at all. Still awaiting result of investigation.


Whilst in the Town Hall today I asked about the issue of parking tickets which is beginning to cause a lot of upset.

One of my friends and a few members of NWS had contacted me about the issue of parking tickets on occasions when they thought they were legally parked. The rule in Spain is different to that in the UK and, where there is a line down the centre of the road, on a normal two way street you cannot park on the road as this restricts the width of the road to one carraigeway. An example would be outside the pharmacy in Zurgena which is where two people got tickets last week and  also at the pool bar in La Alfoquia where a number of people have been given tickets. I have asked for the local free press to carry an article explaining these rules.

If you are unforunate enough to get one of these tickets you need to pay it into a local bank within 30 daysto receive a 30% reduction and then taken the receipt to the Town Hall.

When I raised the issue at the Town Hall I was told that if I raised it as an issue with the Mayor they may agree to put up more signs but I declined that suggestion as we are in Spain they cannot be expected to spend additional money to educate the xpats we need to be aware of the Spanish traffic laws.

Some people have seen the Polizia Local out taking pictures in the area recently. There is nothing untoward about this it is merely to improve the records of the Town Hall in relation to various developements.

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State of Play

I called into the Town Hall today and fortunately Candido was in, although he was not supposed to be, as he is on leave.


I asked for an update on the investigation and whether there were any developments. He informed me of the following facts,

1. The investigating Judge based in Huercal Overa is taking statements from everyone connected with the Town Hall, solicitors, developers and agents etc. This process may take a few weeks. Whilst I was there the current Architect called in to see Candido and they discussed the facts that he would be required to cover in his evidence. Given that he has only been our architect for about 6 months I don't know what value he can be to the investigation but apparently he was questioned by the Guardia Civil for 5 hours but that that led to a short statement of only 3 pages. He is to give his evidence to the judge next Tuesday.

2. The judge hearing this case at the moment is a substitute judge based in Huercal Overa and she has gone on record as saying that this case is too involved for her so she will oversee the statements and then pass it to the Civil Court in Almeria. This process, the statement taking, should take another week or two.

3. They, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, are satisfied that they have not done anything wrong and that all permissions granted by them were legal and within the norms of property developing in Spain at the time they were granted. He said that it looked like they were hoping to uncover another Marbella but that they had obviously failed to find anything  like that in Zurgena and that they were now trying to find any little thing with which to prosecute the councillors.

I did notice that Candido seemed very tired and stressed and was smoking even more than usual for him, which makes it almost chain smoking. He did say that as soon as all the statements had been made he would call the council together to decide what we as a council can and cannot do in light of the fact that everything we previously did and thought of as legal is now being deemed illegal. So we need to identify how we can and cannot grant permissions.

The street signs still have not arrived but the computer for this is still usable in the Town Hall, bear in mind that many have been seized for the investigation, and are being updated.

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Back Home

Just another thank you for all the messages of condolence which are gratefully acknowledged.


We got back home yesterday, Thursday 8th. What absolutely dreadful weather, wish I had stayed in the UK for a few more days it was 80 degs and bright sunshine when we left Manchester airport!

I will get into the Town Hall next Tuesday probably and start getting back to normal. Will try and get updates on the position re the court cases and other issues then.

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Returning Home

We are holding the funeral service for Sue's mum tomorrow at the crematorium at Lincoln at 2.30pm,

We have managed to get a flight back home on Thursday morning (8th May) so hope we can get back to normal by next week and find out all the latest news.

Thanks to all for your messages of sympathy they are appreciated - thanks.

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Sadness and Happiness

We have spent a very emotionally tiring week and a half so far in the UK>

My wife's mother (Olive) was rushed into hospital on Saturday 19th April following a stroke. We were informed about it on Saturday night and managed to get a flight on Sunday 20th. Went straight to Lincoln hospital where mum was and she was unconscious. The nursing staff told us she had had a massive stroke and was unlikely to recover.

On Monday morning they told us her condition was deteriorating so we dashed back to the hospital only to discover that, all that had happened was, she had been disconnected from the drips etc. It was explained to us that as there was no likelihood of recovery they would put her on the Liverpoo Care Plan. This basically means making her as comfortable as possible but not giving her any water, food, drips or oxygen. But to make her as comfortable as possible until she died. As you can imagine not a nice experience for the family. We all stayed with her as much as possible but her body refused to die. By the morning of Sunday 27th I approached the ward sister to ask if this situation was going to last much longer. She toldus to prepare for a marathon. I would have thought that 7 days without any sustenance was a marathon.

However not long after asking the question Olive started to secrete blood from her mouth and we were then told it would not be long. After about 3 hours she eventually breathed her last and the family were able to move on.

I don't think we treat animals as badly as that. Whilst I realise all the implications I feel sure there must be a better way to deal with such scenarios.

The funeral is to be held next Tuesday so I won't be able to do anything with the Town Hall until after that date when I can get a flight back.

One bit of great news though, to offset our loss, was that my daughter Claire announced that she was pregnant. Quite poignant but of course more emotions. Ready for a rest!

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Unexpected Trip to UK

We heard yesterday that my wife's mother had been admitted to hospital and the prognosis is not good so we are flying back today and don't know when we will get back. There will therefore be no updates for at least one week but as soon as I get back will try and move things on.


The Spanish press and television did a reasonably good job of covering the Press Conference and from the articles I read they seemed to be balanced reports. They all referred to the summary compiled by the man from Madrid University who had detailed all the correct procedures followed by Zurgena in the past 20 years regarding building plans and licences. All the reporters were given a folder with numerous documents in including this report and I have a copy of it if anyone wishes to see it when I get back.

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Press Conference

The Press Conference was held today at the Municipal Theatre in Zurgena.

I had to go without my interpreter which made it interesting but very hard work.

I was pleased top see that the attendance was tremendous. All 5 of the top Spanish television stations were there. As was radio and all the leading daily newspapers. The only english press to attend was the Costa Almeria news whose correspondent Jackie Bragg I met for the first time. 

The top table consisted of the councils solicitor, Candido, Manolo and two other lawyers. The councils solicitor opened the conference and explained that both Candido and Manolo had called this conference to refute the allegations appearing in the press and to present documents to the press which supported their contentions.

Candido started firstly again reiterated that he was firmly of the opinion that the action taken against him was purely politically motivated. He referred to the allegations of him receiving a sum of 12,000 euros which was supposed to be a backhander for building permissions. He produced documents to show that he received this money from a sale of a piece land belonging to his family. He then continued to detail allegations and how he totally denied any wrongdoing and could provide valid evidence to show that that was the case each member of the press was given a pack of these documents and I have  a full set although it will take me some time to translate and identify them all. There are some 40 A4 pages and they include bank transfers etc.  Manolo followed Candido and his statement followed Candido's by refuting each and every allegation and producing documents to substantiate his version of events. Both men stating that they did not understand why the Guardia Civil had not been able to find these documents which so clearly showed their innocent nature.

Candido highlighted the fact that Zurgena, one of the smallest municipalities, should have such an amount of attention paid to its activities when it is quite obvious to anyone that infractions of the planning laws were far more evident in many other municipalities in Almeria and Levante. He also referred to the fact that one of the charges, relating to the allowing of building on rustic land, related to building permissions give in 2002 when the council was in fact PSOE controlled and his party PA only had a couple of seats at that time. 

Both men performed very well and I felt much more convinced that there would be insufficient evidence upon which they could reasonably be found guilty. 

I only hope that the Spanish press which is so dominated by the PSOE, will fully report what was said today. I intend to get a copy of La Voz and Ideal tomorrow to find out just how it is reported and will update my blog when I have deciphered the responses.

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Press Conference and Apologies

Candido Trabalon, our Mayor, has called a Press Conference for 11.0am this Friday at the Municipal Theatre to inform the press about some of the speculation going on in the Spanish media.


I will attend and try and get some time with him after it to find out when we can get back to work. I know that some of the press may well ask him why, when all his time is taken up with defending himself, he does not stand down until the case is resolved. I can see that point of view as it is extremely frustrating to be unable to make any progress but I also realise that he is the best qualified to take things forward. 

So my apologies to those who have asked for answers which I have been unable to obtain yet, I will keep trying. 

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