The Council, through the Area of Finance, Presidency and Modernization, led by Berta Pérez, has promoted during the first half of the year 305 legal, technical and administrative assistance to 26 of the 31 municipalities from Tenerife. From the own Reserve Lists to hire new workers, which the insular institution has assigned to the municipalities, to offering civil servants to form part of an opposition court or a professional necessary for the opening of a disciplinary file.
In the balance of the first six months of 2021, it is worth highlighting the 275 services provided in the legal field, both in representation and in defense of trial. The municipality of Arona stands out with 69 performances. Of these, 51 for the city council, plus 10 for the Board of Culture, 2 for Sports and 6 for Social Services. Güímar follows with 40 interventions and Puerto de la Cruz with 28.
The other scope of action of the island administration is that of the administrative technical assistance. There have been 30 performances. Of these, 17 have been resolved and 13 are pending. There have been 21 requests regarding personnel to make use of the Cabildo’s reserve list, form part of opposition courts, instructor in disciplinary proceedings or agreements in human resources.
As for the technical chapter, there have been six applications. From a report for a reckless withdrawal in a contest to the supervision of projects and the preparation of specifications.
The municipalities have welcomed this initiative very positively. It is an administrative mechanism that already existed but that the island government team chaired by Pedro Martín has wanted to develop. There are no restrictions and the project focuses on providing technical, administrative, legal and technological support to the 31 municipalities of the Island. Especially, to the 19 with less than 20,000 inhabitants. Martín understands that “they should be the object of priority attention, as established by the Cabildos Law itself.”
The line of work is based on two basic pillars: the Administrative Modernization Plan, endowed with 920,000 euros, and a Comprehensive Advisory Office. Through it, services and advice are provided in legal, economic, budgetary, administrative and technical matters through authorized national staff and technical and administrative staff.
Berta Pérez explains that “it is not only about legal defense in administrative and jurisdictional channels, but also regarding the issuance of reports that are required, as well as support in the processing of particularly complex files.” In addition, the assistance is specified in the support in the elaboration of the annual budgets, in the matter of administrative contracting or in the provision of the functions of Secretariat and Intervention, reserved to national officials (authorized).
In this regard, explains Pérez, “we will have civil servants who, attached to the structure of the Cabildo, carry out their functions temporarily in the municipalities that request it. Itinerant support depending on the needs ”.
Reserve lists
The reserve lists of personnel so that the municipalities can cover temporary hiring needs is another essential aspect. Among the professionals included are administrative assistants, agricultural laborers, technical delineation specialists, legal and economic technicians, drivers, operators or social workers, among others. Pedro Martín highlights that this transfer of the lists “has a positive impact on employment, since it gives the opportunity to people available to work and with this measure they can do so in any municipality that requires personnel.”
According to Pedro Martín, the Cabildo consolidates its function “of assisting municipalities for the benefit of citizens, with special emphasis on those with fewer of their own resources.” He concludes: “We have signed agreements with more than twenty municipalities and we have contacted the rest to offer them collaboration.”
“Defense of municipalism”
“I come from a municipality, Guía de Isora, which many see far away, and I was very clear that the approach of the previous government group, that of the Canary Coalition, had to be radically changed.” The president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, says it about his concept, which stands out, of municipalism: “To understand Tenerife you have to understand the 31 municipalities that form it with the criteria of a pact for an equitable distribution.” Martín values the economic items for social services that “may be over eleven million euros.” Martín adds: “For all municipalities.” For example, through the Office of Attention and Support to Municipalities, the meaning of which, the president emphasizes: «Streamline files in small areas. Also computer support and promotion of the digital agenda ». The Cabildo, summarizes Pedro Martín to conclude “puts lawyers and advises in the courts. There are municipalities in which we have handled up to twenty or thirty cases ”. From January to July of this year they have been represented in 275. In addition, technical and administrative assistance has been provided on another thirty occasions.
