The Plenary gives the green light to 8.3 million euros for new projects, improvements in the municipality and more cultural and sports activities.

7.7 million of the surplus achieved in 2024 will be incorporated into this year’s budget for the remodeling of neighborhoods, the construction of the velodrome, a new asphalting plan and the rescue of private parking lots to be incorporated into the municipal network of 1 euro during the day.

The City Council increases the budget for activities at the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center.

The Plenary of the Estepona City Council today gave the green light to 8.3 million euros to be allocated to new projects, improvements in the city and more cultural and sports activities. Specifically, it has been approved to incorporate to this year’s budget 7.7 million euros from the surplus achieved in 2024 -which reached 45.63 million- for new investments. In addition, the item earmarked for cultural and sports activities and the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center is increased with another 650,000 euros.

The City Council wants to strengthen the programming of one of the largest cultural facilities in the municipality. El Mirador del Carmen has become a cultural beacon at national level and during its brief career has attracted the attention of major events that have put the focus on the decisive commitment of the City Council for culture. This important cultural and social center acquires a relevance that transcends Estepona itself to become an important provincial facility.

The Library of Contemporary Cultures, one of the main attractions of the Mirador, has since its inauguration in November last year, with a full free program ranging from literary presentations to workshops, book clubs, lectures and conferences. Big names in culture have passed through its facilities in recent months in meetings with the public who have filled the spaces provided. The interest of the municipal government with the increase of the item for cultural activities approved in the plenary is to strengthen this programming and offer the residents of the municipality more events and even higher quality.

With regard to the 7.7 million allocated to investments, it will be used for a comprehensive plan of remodeling and infrastructure that will allow to meet throughout the year the needs of improvement works that may arise in public infrastructure throughout the municipality. In addition, several major actions have been planned in neighborhoods such as those contemplated for the Juanito Valderrama, Estandarte and Colón squares, as well as the remodeling and urbanization of the Plaza Fuerzas Armadas.

This increase in the investment budget also allows to face long-awaited projects such as the construction of a velodrome or the beginning of the procedures for the new Guadalmina river path, while the private parking lots will be rescued, which will be integrated into the Municipal Parking Network with a cost of 1 euro during the day. At the moment, an agreement has already been reached for the rescue of the La Viña parking lot.

The conservation and rehabilitation of municipal buildings and a new asphalting plan are other actions to which new funds will be allocated.

Registry of Applicants for Subsidized Housing (VPO)

On the other hand, the Plenary has initially approved the amendment of the Regulatory Ordinance of the Municipal Public Registry of Applicants for Subsidized Housing in Estepona, approved by the full City Council in September 2012, with the aim of giving preference to those registered in the municipality when accessing a VPO.

The amendment aims to include as a criterion for the selection of successful bidders and alternate bidders the registration in the municipality of Estepona, with preference being given to those with administrative residence equal to or greater than 3 years at the time of application. Among all the previous existing registrations will be selected by seniority of registration.

The City Council of Estepona thus adapts its Regulatory Ordinance of the Municipal Public Registry of Applicants for Subsidized Housing to Law 1/2010, Regulating the Right to Housing in Andalusia and also meets neighborhood requests for those who are registered to have preference in the processes of allocation of VPO that could be convened.

The rest of the text of the Regulatory Ordinance of the Registry of Applicants for Subsidized Housing of the City Council of Estepona is maintained in accordance with the provisions of the regional law. This Andalusian law establishes the procedure for registration in the registers opened by each of the Andalusian municipalities and includes an aspect that applicants must take into account, such as the period of validity of registration, renewal and cancellation in the register. In this sense, it indicates that “the registration in the Municipal Public Registers will be valid for three years, counting from the date of the same or from the last update of the data made by the registered person”, and that it is necessary for the interested party to renew it.