The plenary session of La Laguna approved yesterday by a large majority, with the support of all parties and only the abstention of the PPthat the future General Planning Plan (PGO) of the municipality “establish limitations to the vacation rental”. A plenary session that began with a minute of silence for the death of the poet and sculptor Fernando García Ramos.
Specifically, based on a motion of Drago Verdes Canariaswith an amendment from the local government (PSOE-CC) and Unidas it is possible, it was agreed that, once the results of the study commissioned by the ULL to analyze vacation and residential housing are available, also taking into account other existing ones on the effects of vacation rentals in the Canary Islands, as well as the impacts it may have on the municipality, “the measures that the local Administration can implement to control, regulate and limit vacation rentals, within the scope of its powers, are studied.”
Furthermore, the local government is urged to, “in the scope of municipal powers, in the future preparation of the General Planning Plan, establish limitations to the phenomenon of vacation rentals within the urban planning powers”, in those areas of the municipality “where be relevant.”
The Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo are also urged to “control holiday homes that are out of regulation, in order to control the emergence of them in an uncontrolled manner and within residential spaces and/or areas”, as well as “contemplate the special circumstances of areas such as the northeast region” and establish “channels of dialogue between administrations to ensure that the needs for regulation and limitation of vacation rentals are reflected in the legislative development that the Government of the Canary Islands is promoting.”
The spokesperson for Drago Verdes Canarias, Alberto Rodríguez, argued that, according to Eurostat data from November 2022 to February 2023, “The Canary Islands are at the head of the entire European continent with respect to overnight stays per inhabitant” in vacation rentals.
The housing problem was one of the main topics in yesterday’s debate. Thus, the plenary session approved, again with the abstention of the PP, another motion proposed by Unidas se puede, and with an amendment from the local government, with measures to expand the municipal housing stock and the stoppage of “the eviction processes of families.” “vulnerable people of La Laguna”.
In this way, the Asset Management Company from Bank Restructuring (Sareb) continues to be urged to “stop the planned evictions” in the municipality, and Visocan, after the relevant Social Welfare studies, “to renew the necessary agreements to sustain the homes of families in vulnerable situations over time, maintaining the agreements related to promotions such as the 119 homes or exploring other formulas that provide the best solution.”
Sareb and Visocan are also asked to allocate the homes they have in La Laguna to the municipal program, and it is agreed to continue prioritizing the purchase and rehabilitation of houses, as well as to continue promoting the expansion of the public park.
Regarding rental prices, reference is made again to the study commissioned by the ULL so that, once the results are available, “the application of measures established in current legislation to reduce the rental price of the properties is studied.” homes and limit the effect of vacation rentals.”
On the other hand, the plenary session also approved, as institutional, a motion from Drago to urge Titsa to recover line 610 of the university circuit, and three from the PP for improvements in points of the municipality, among others.
A plenary session with many agreements, but also some clashes, especially in the motions presented by the PP and Drago, which did not go ahead, to request a change in the schedule of the plenary sessions and that they return to being in the afternoon or from mid-morning onwards, In order, as they argued together with Unidas, to further encourage participation. The Casco Neighborhood Association also intervened in the plenary session supporting this change, and took the opportunity to demand once again a new Special Protection Plan.
In the opinion of the Government group, the schedule agreed last July, starting at 10:00 a.m. and continuing into the afternoon, gives residents more options for participation. To which we must add that the possibility of intervening electronically has been enabled.
Water
On the other hand, Unidas can request an appearance on the increase in the water rate announced by Teidagua and to request that it be reversed. Councilor Ángel Chinea, responsible for the Water area, emphasized that “there is nothing to reverse, since nothing has been approved,” since “the reports from the Treasury, Legal Advice and Intervention are still missing, which may or may not coincide with the data and rates reported by Teidagua.”
If a tariff proposal is established, it would be taken to the plenary session for approval and would still have to go through the Price Commission of the Canary Islands Government for “study and final determination of the amount.”
The mayor explained that Teidagua’s request for a “rate adjustment” is based on the fact that “it would be forced to make losses,” given “the current situation of cost overruns,” putting “the guarantee of such an essential service at risk.”
