The Tenerife Island Council is incorporating €44.9 million through a credit modification for strategic projects related to employment, the primary sector, mobility, and water. It is noteworthy that the Island Council Plenary approved allocating €11.5 million of this total amount for the 31 Municipalities of the Island to develop employment policies and plans. The Socialist Group abstained – 10 votes against 19 in favor, as Juan Acosta (CC) and Pedro Martín (PSOE) were missing yesterday – “more due to the form than the substance” due to the use of treasury surplus and the flexibility – or lack thereof – of the spending rule – where the money should go – by “Europe and Spain”. All this following a debate between the Insular Finance Director, Juan Carlos Pérez Frías, and the spokesperson of the main opposition party, Aarón Afonso.
In addition to municipal employment plans, €12.8 million will be invested in hydraulic resources and €2.6 million for the improvement of Titsa company infrastructures apart from the fleet. The latest bus purchase sparked a debate between the two protagonists on who bought, how they bought, and when they bought the new buses in the comparison between the previous and current mandates. Political discussion.
The initial credit modification amounted to €3,448,339, and the subsequent amendment by the government group increased it by €41,498,406 for employment, tourism, innovation, sports, mobility, and water, among others.
The €11.5 million allocated to employment policies will allow “providing direct subsidies to the 31 municipalities of the Island for hiring unemployed individuals for carrying out works and services of economic and social interest that contribute to municipal sustainable development”.
Other Investments
The agreement also highlights €1.6 million for the lease of the Old Taoro Hotel and its adjacent plot considering the work program that foresees the completion of the works by the end of this year, as well as €3.5 million earmarked to complete the works of the Tenerife Water Sports Centre located in Puerto de la Cruz, which was the subject of controversy in the question session between the nationalist Yolanda Moliné, Sports Councillor, and the socialist Laura Castro – a usual dance couple – regarding the management model. The file also includes a proposal of over €12.8 million for hydraulic resources under the agreement with the State Mercantile Society of Spanish Basin Waters (ACUAES).
There is also a contribution of €8.5 million in favour of the Tenerife Scientific and Technological Park, as well as two – one of €738,680 and another of €1.9 million – for Titsa to finance new investments in infrastructures and workshops.
Regarding the initial file, there is €1 million to address the renovation and improvement of the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium dressing rooms, in addition to €700,000 for co-financing projects in the Northern Hospital and in the CAE of Puerto de la Cruz. €341,657 will be allocated to the NOE project at the IASS; €435,764 for the Rural Development programme and €300,000 – plus an additional €100,000 in the amendment – for the employment of personnel and material resources to assist in surveillance, deterrence, and prevention of fires during the peak alert seasons of the year.
Additionally, the initial file includes an amount of €250,000 for the La Orotava Municipality to collaborate in the surveillance and removal of improperly parked vehicles in the Teide National Park.
