Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre Council approves the remuneration and roles of its councillors
![[Img #42580]](upload/img/periodico/img_42580.jpg)
Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre approved the dates for meetings of the current legislature, setting up ordinary meetings every two months at 8pm. This was unanimously approved by the PP, PSOE and Compromis who voted in favour of the Information Committees, with the Ciudadanos abstaining. The constitution of the Spokespersons’ Committee was also approved unanimously. However, on this last point, the PP assumed its creation, whilst the PSOE stated that it has to be formed “for legal reasons”, with the Compromis spokesperson adding that “I had already proposed this last year and it had gone very well”.
Regarding the allocation of tasks to members of the governing party, the socialist spokesperson, Joan Ronchera, expressed his doubts about the position of the Deputy Mayor in Alcossebre and on the compatibility of Francisco Juan Mars being at the same time both mayor and provincial deputy, besides taking into consideration that with the mayor taking on the responsibility for the budget “the Finance department has been decaffeinated”. Equally, the PSOE spokesperson criticised the remuneration to be received by the governing group, saying that “it is higher than the responsibility they hold”.
For his part, Ximo Zaragoza of the Ciudadanos, asked the mayor, Francisco Juan Mars to explain “how he can be in several places at the same time” with reference to his positions as mayor and deputy, finally requesting that the mayor should reduce his salary.
During his speech, the Compromis spokesperson, Manel Salvador, stated “I believe that they are decent salaries. I understand that the profession should be respected, in the same way that I also ask that the transactions carried out by the council should be”.
Responding to the statements from some members of the opposition, the PP spokesperson, José Colom defended the governing group’s position assuring that “there will not only be one councillor in Alcossebre, but each week several of them will be there to attend to the public in Alcossebre”. Finally he reminded that “when we came to government the cost of the councillors was substantially reduced and now it has been done again”.
Joan Ronchera replied demanding “a more intense neurological effort, neither my team nor I were responsible for what happened then, I was 16 years old”. Nevertheless, Francisco Juan Mars ended the matter stating that “we are still living through those past unpleasant matters now; it was not only in the past”.
Regarding his responsibilities as mayor and a deputy, Juan Mars stated that “everything that is being said is cheap demagogy, for me to be a deputy and Mayor of my town is an honour, I have given up my profession. In the last legislature it was already clear how I made my work as a deputy and as mayor totally compatible, reflecting my effort and commitment”.
The Partido Popular voted in favour, whilst Compromis abstained and both the PSOE and Ciudadanos voted against.
Remuneration and allocation of roles
In the present legislature, only the mayor will be exclusively dedicated to his role, eliminating two in respect to the past. The mayor’s annual salary will be 37,000 euros gross “which is 10% less than the previous legislature and 20,000 euros less than in the tripartite legislature”. Four councillors in the governing group will be part-time, being paid 1,700 euros gross per month, whilst the other two will receive remuneration for attending government bodies and meetings.
Councillors will receive 375 euros for attending meetings, 200 euros for taking part in information committees and 375 for attending full Council Meetings.
Regarding this the PSOE criticised the increase which in their view had been applied to remuneration for attending, as well as the elimination of the annual limit. Later the mayor, Francisco Juan Mars, justified this measure indicating that “when we arrived, each session the 400 euros was reduced to 300 and now it has been increased to 375 euros”.
Only the PP supported this proposal with their vote, with the rest of the town’s parties abstaining.
Finally, the Partido Popular approved the contracting of one exclusively dedicated person as eventual staff, to which Joan Ronchera of the PSOE stated that “it is a rip off and a lack of coherence”, whilst the Compromis spokesperson, Manel Salvador, stated that “these are not the times for this”. From the PP, José Colom justified that the contracting of this staff “is necessary and the person will go on to be an assessor, in charge of the modernisation of the web, apps, communication and coordination of the different departments”.
ALLOCATION OF AREAS AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE ALCALA DE XIVERT-ALCOSSEBRE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TEAM:
Francisco Juan Mars: Mayor’s office, budgets and employment.
José Colom: (First Mayor’s deputy), town planning, environment and activities.
María Agut: (Second Mayor’s deputy), staff, education, culture, sports and "women".
Alejandra Roca: Finance and tourism.
José Ángel Traver: Police, services and agriculture.
María Argaya: Social welfare and health.
Pascual Herrera: Fiestas, youth and commerce.
Ordinary meetings will be held, as before, on the last Wednesday of each odd month at 20:00h in the meeting room in the Casa de la Música y la Cultura D. Remigio Miralles.
Extraordinary council meetings will be held at 13:00h.
Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre approved the dates for meetings of the current legislature, setting up ordinary meetings every two months at 8pm. This was unanimously approved by the PP, PSOE and Compromis who voted in favour of the Information Committees, with the Ciudadanos abstaining. The constitution of the Spokespersons’ Committee was also approved unanimously. However, on this last point, the PP assumed its creation, whilst the PSOE stated that it has to be formed “for legal reasons”, with the Compromis spokesperson adding that “I had already proposed this last year and it had gone very well”.
Regarding the allocation of tasks to members of the governing party, the socialist spokesperson, Joan Ronchera, expressed his doubts about the position of the Deputy Mayor in Alcossebre and on the compatibility of Francisco Juan Mars being at the same time both mayor and provincial deputy, besides taking into consideration that with the mayor taking on the responsibility for the budget “the Finance department has been decaffeinated”. Equally, the PSOE spokesperson criticised the remuneration to be received by the governing group, saying that “it is higher than the responsibility they hold”.
For his part, Ximo Zaragoza of the Ciudadanos, asked the mayor, Francisco Juan Mars to explain “how he can be in several places at the same time” with reference to his positions as mayor and deputy, finally requesting that the mayor should reduce his salary.
During his speech, the Compromis spokesperson, Manel Salvador, stated “I believe that they are decent salaries. I understand that the profession should be respected, in the same way that I also ask that the transactions carried out by the council should be”.
Responding to the statements from some members of the opposition, the PP spokesperson, José Colom defended the governing group’s position assuring that “there will not only be one councillor in Alcossebre, but each week several of them will be there to attend to the public in Alcossebre”. Finally he reminded that “when we came to government the cost of the councillors was substantially reduced and now it has been done again”.
Joan Ronchera replied demanding “a more intense neurological effort, neither my team nor I were responsible for what happened then, I was 16 years old”. Nevertheless, Francisco Juan Mars ended the matter stating that “we are still living through those past unpleasant matters now; it was not only in the past”.
Regarding his responsibilities as mayor and a deputy, Juan Mars stated that “everything that is being said is cheap demagogy, for me to be a deputy and Mayor of my town is an honour, I have given up my profession. In the last legislature it was already clear how I made my work as a deputy and as mayor totally compatible, reflecting my effort and commitment”.
The Partido Popular voted in favour, whilst Compromis abstained and both the PSOE and Ciudadanos voted against.
Remuneration and allocation of roles
In the present legislature, only the mayor will be exclusively dedicated to his role, eliminating two in respect to the past. The mayor’s annual salary will be 37,000 euros gross “which is 10% less than the previous legislature and 20,000 euros less than in the tripartite legislature”. Four councillors in the governing group will be part-time, being paid 1,700 euros gross per month, whilst the other two will receive remuneration for attending government bodies and meetings.
Councillors will receive 375 euros for attending meetings, 200 euros for taking part in information committees and 375 for attending full Council Meetings.
Regarding this the PSOE criticised the increase which in their view had been applied to remuneration for attending, as well as the elimination of the annual limit. Later the mayor, Francisco Juan Mars, justified this measure indicating that “when we arrived, each session the 400 euros was reduced to 300 and now it has been increased to 375 euros”.
Only the PP supported this proposal with their vote, with the rest of the town’s parties abstaining.
Finally, the Partido Popular approved the contracting of one exclusively dedicated person as eventual staff, to which Joan Ronchera of the PSOE stated that “it is a rip off and a lack of coherence”, whilst the Compromis spokesperson, Manel Salvador, stated that “these are not the times for this”. From the PP, José Colom justified that the contracting of this staff “is necessary and the person will go on to be an assessor, in charge of the modernisation of the web, apps, communication and coordination of the different departments”.
ALLOCATION OF AREAS AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE ALCALA DE XIVERT-ALCOSSEBRE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TEAM:
Francisco Juan Mars: Mayor’s office, budgets and employment.
José Colom: (First Mayor’s deputy), town planning, environment and activities.
María Agut: (Second Mayor’s deputy), staff, education, culture, sports and "women".
Alejandra Roca: Finance and tourism.
José Ángel Traver: Police, services and agriculture.
María Argaya: Social welfare and health.
Pascual Herrera: Fiestas, youth and commerce.
Ordinary meetings will be held, as before, on the last Wednesday of each odd month at 20:00h in the meeting room in the Casa de la Música y la Cultura D. Remigio Miralles.
Extraordinary council meetings will be held at 13:00h.
