SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 31st March (EUROPA PRESS) –
In 2023, the Municipal Urban Planning Department of the Santa Cruz City Council successfully resolved 9,103 cases, compared to 8,622 the previous year, marking a 5.5% increase in the processing and resolution of various cases that the department works on throughout the year. The total number of cases opened last year also exceeded 8,000.
Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, has praised the dedication of the Urban Planning Department in “handling and expediting all the processes under its authority, which are crucial for the city’s economic revitalization.”
Urban Planning Councillor, Zaida González, highlighted the ultimate goal of “providing improved services to citizens, streamlining procedures, and executing major construction and planning projects planned for the current term.”
Explaining the case handling, the councillor mentioned that while fewer cases were opened in 2023 (8,181 compared to 9,005 in 2022), there was greater efficiency in the processes. This efficiency is evidenced in the number of resolved cases, increasing from 8,622 to 9,103 last year, a rise of almost 6%.
Addressing the two services directly responding to citizen requests – urban planning discipline and licenses – the trend of fewer cases initiated in 2023 compared to 2022, but more resolved, was confirmed.
Regarding discipline, in 2022, 1,272 cases were initiated, with 1,069 resolved. Last year, there were 1,088 initiated and 1,495 resolved.
In the licensing department, in 2022, 4,113 cases were processed, and 4,121 resolved. In 2023, 3,841 cases were initiated and 4,466 resolved.
DIGITAL OFFICE
Regarding other procedures, Councillor Zaida González noted a decrease in the number of appointments attended by specialised technical personnel, dropping from 4,254 to 3,085 appointments. Similarly, the number of answered calls decreased from 22,974 in 2022 to 20,721 in 2023. She explained that this indicates increased efficiency in management, requiring less interaction with interested parties despite similar, or even fewer, cases and records processed.
A slight decrease in the number of registrations was observed, from 15,387 in 2022 to 15,329 in 2023. Noteworthy is the growing trend towards a greater utilisation of the Municipal Planning Management’s digital platform by interested parties, rising from 11,667 in 2022 to 12,038 in 2023 during the period analysed – an increase from 76% to 79%.
