ARBOLEAS TOWN HALL

[cooperscasa]

faustino has been avoiding me for 13 years.
i know he lives in garrucha and i often see him driving around albox.
full of broken promises and lies.
that about sums up the late builders in arboleas.

[DLMcN]

Cooper - Faustino does have a FaceBook a/c - which can be opened and read. In theory, we could send him a Message there. If he checks it sometimes, and recognises you and wishes to renew contact, then he will presumably reply.

[Roger]

I've not had contact with him for months.
He keeps changing his phone number.
But Promar is currently suspended by the Courts so until (if) this is sorted they can't do or sign anything.

[tandas]

he lives in Garrucha now we see him occasionally in the bars and on the street best contact through Roger I expect he knows what you need to know.

[cooperscasa]

Regarding PROMAR

Has anybody got any contact details for faustino
either telephone or email address.
please send via personal message.

[Roger]

For the residents off Los carrascos when you have the meeting you might want to clarify..
Since most have afos which means you already have a segregation licence paid to the town hall why does it benefit you to have a parcelisation project which you will have to pay for?

And
Given that part of Los carrascos is affected by two embargos on land how can you complete the process which will require the builder to give land to the town hall, which is embargoed.
In the case of mountain oaks land it's 300k owed to the Hacienda.
In the case of promar land it's over 200k owed to the Hacienda, which they will never pay since the company is effectively defunct.

[Roger]

I have lost count of the number of times Antonio has promised to phone me for a meeting, but after 3 weeks no meeting.

Just a word of advice.
It seems that people are being given information without willing to repeat that information in public particularly in front of people who understand the situation.
Again they are depending on public ignorance of Spanish planning law.

[JuanC]

Hello David, since the councilors of the government team seem to only talk to you and not to the neighbors.

Tell them that when the campaign promised to resolve the problems by August, the October 4 meeting is a little late.

Courage in your defense.

.... >

So what [the Arboleas PP] published on Facebook is a lie.

No Roger - we should really look for a different word^ !

This morning (Friday) I went in to the Town Hall and had a long conversation with Antonio about Innovation 14, and a separate one with Pepa. Both said that they would be quite happy to receive and talk to you and Gerard Vazquez quite openly about it. Antonio even promised me that he would contact you on or before Monday to make an appointment to try and answer your questions. If he fails to do that, please let me know and I will go in and remind him.

There is, however, a limit to how much information they are allowed [by law] to divulge to people [such as you, and indeed me] who are not actually affected landowners. They would be able to say more at a meeting which catered for a specific area. You would be entitled to attend those, but only if you had a written invitation from one of the landowners in the area concerned. The next one is scheduled on 4th October for Los Carrascos.

The previous Mayor NEVER had a meeting with the residents of innovation 14 houses to explain the 3 further projects and the cost in back taxes.

Even last Monday he didn't inform the residents of Los Requenas that after this current issue is resolved there will be a further tax, in addition to the 3300 euro segregation tax  this is the 6000 euro legalisation tax.

What people deserve is transparency, now from the PP. Will they attempt to apply these back taxes on the other innovation 14 houses.

These are issues which I and the AUAN lawyer have been trying to get answers on.

Regarding payments which will be necessary for processing Innovation 14, Antonio and Pepa explained that they will vary from plot to plot, depending on several factors - but they did not think it would be anywhere near 10 thousand euros.

[JuanC]

Hello, just to point out one thing about this message, in the Los Requenas reparcelling project all the loads assigned to each parcel appear. It seems that you have not read it, go to the town hall and ask for it.

The previous Mayor NEVER had a meeting with the residents of innovation 14 houses to explain the 3 further projects and the cost in back taxes.

Even last Monday he didn't inform the residents of Los Requenas that after this current issue is resolved there will be a further tax, in addition to the 3300 euro segregation tax  this is the 6000 euro legalisation tax.

What people deserve is transparency, now from the PP. Will they attempt to apply these back taxes on the other innovation 14 houses.

These are issues which I and the AUAN lawyer have been trying to get answers on.

[Roger]

Well good luck with that!
I suggest you talk to the AUAN lawyer.
Continuing with innovation 14 will require the house owners to pay thousands in back taxes.
That's a legal fact.
Yes it will vary house to house, area to area.
But it will be thousands.
Which the builders should pay, but won't.
Mike told people it could be up to 20k.

How is it calculated?
Segregation tax for Los Requenas is 3300 euros per house.
For Los Torres it's 30k spread over the estate.

Then there is the legalisation tax, fixed in law, and stated in the town hall peri document as average of 5200 euros per house.

[ghostrider1611]

We recently had a meeting with Antonio and the architect which was quite favourable regarding innovation 14 I believe we need to give the new administration a little time as weve had no joy in 21 years
We have never had a visit from the previous administration with an offer to help us despite our lawyer trying numerous times to get a a meeting with them .

[DLMcN]

.... >

So what [the Arboleas PP] published on Facebook is a lie.

No Roger - we should really look for a different word^ !

This morning (Friday) I went in to the Town Hall and had a long conversation with Antonio about Innovation 14, and a separate one with Pepa. Both said that they would be quite happy to receive and talk to you and Gerard Vazquez quite openly about it. Antonio even promised me that he would contact you on or before Monday to make an appointment to try and answer your questions. If he fails to do that, please let me know and I will go in and remind him.

There is, however, a limit to how much information they are allowed [by law] to divulge to people [such as you, and indeed me] who are not actually affected landowners. They would be able to say more at a meeting which catered for a specific area. You would be entitled to attend those, but only if you had a written invitation from one of the landowners in the area concerned. The next one is scheduled on 4th October for Los Carrascos.

The previous Mayor NEVER had a meeting with the residents of innovation 14 houses to explain the 3 further projects and the cost in back taxes.

Even last Monday he didn't inform the residents of Los Requenas that after this current issue is resolved there will be a further tax, in addition to the 3300 euro segregation tax  this is the 6000 euro legalisation tax.

What people deserve is transparency, now from the PP. Will they attempt to apply these back taxes on the other innovation 14 houses.

These are issues which I and the AUAN lawyer have been trying to get answers on.

Regarding payments which will be necessary for processing Innovation 14, Antonio and Pepa explained that they will vary from plot to plot, depending on several factors - but they did not think it would be anywhere near 10 thousand euros.

[Tetley]

The letter was submitted after 3 conversations with Antonio, plus requests from the AUAN lawyer personally to Antonio.
Then a face to face conversation with Jose who promised a meeting in a few days.

Nothing happened.
No email
No phone call or WhatsApp message despite further emails and text messages.

So what they published on Facebook is a lie.

So basically Roger people have been encouraged to vote PP  and remove a mayor with 30 plus years 
of business and Spanish Administration  experience ....(he lost control by under 100 village votes after 30 years of public service to Arboleas ....)

and your still not happy/ getting anywhere ?

im going for a coffee down the player   

[Roger]

The letter was submitted after 3 conversations with Antonio, plus requests from the AUAN lawyer personally to Antonio.
Then a face to face conversation with Jose who promised a meeting in a few days.

Nothing happened.
No email
No phone call or WhatsApp message despite further emails and text messages.

So what they published on Facebook is a lie.

[DLMcN]

It is indeed difficult to reconcile this:

..... >
Myself and the AUAN lawyer have been asking for a meeting for weeks.
Nothing.

A resident of Los Requenas asked for a meeting with the Mayor officially in writing.
Not even an acknowledgement.
.... >

... with the following comment in Arboleas PP's Facebook regarding Innovation 14:

[Respecto al escrito presentado por el grupo socialista de Arboleas] > ... Cualquier vecino que quiera información detalla al respecto puede ponerse en contacto a través de nuestra página de facebock o acercarse al ayuntamiento cuando lo necesite.

So - perhaps try handing your "written request" personally to José Juan, or Antonio, or to Pepa - and ask for a date-stamped signed photocopy to serve as an acknowledgement of receipt.

[Roger]

You may be correct.
The PP promised action within a month.

In reply to Tetley.
People have waited so long.
They have seen partners die waiting.
They voted for a change after so many years of no action and secrecy.

It's up to the PP whether they keep their promises.
So far not much sign of it.
Myself and the AUAN lawyer have been asking for a meeting for weeks.
Nothing.
A resident of Los Requenas asked for a meeting with the Mayor officially in writing.
Not even an acknowledgement.

Interesting that Antonio has not published anything on this forum since the election.

As for Cristobal.
No change there.
No meeting with the British and total secrecy.

[Johnny73]

When will you all realise Roger included that the Spanish local village system of politics work only in one way , in favour of whoever is in power.
Pains me to admit but  Christobal had far more interest in the expats problems than now seems to be the case . Basically nobody gives a toss about expats who got shafted while the village experienced massive growth on the back of the English.
Don't expect a thing to change.
Roger , you got sold a pub before the election , leave them to it mate .

[Tetley]

Roger....

we had a very well experienced mayor that took Arboleas from a rural agricultural village to a town which attracting millions of euros of investment and he changed the town beyond recognition over the past 25 years....

you and other,s wanted political change and the PSOE Mayor was ousted even though the PSOE  had the highest number of Councillors ie 5.

you have your change,democracey is served  and the New Team must be given time .   

[Roger]

The previous Mayor NEVER had a meeting with the residents of innovation 14 houses to explain the 3 further projects and the cost in back taxes.

Even last Monday he didn't inform the residents of Los Requenas that after this current issue is resolved there will be a further tax, in addition to the 3300 euro segregation tax  this is the 6000 euro legalisation tax.

What people deserve is transparency, now from the PP. Will they attempt to apply these back taxes on the other innovation 14 houses.

These are issues which I and the AUAN lawyer have been trying to get answers on.

[Roger]

No doubt this debate will continue, which is why I put my report.

It's good and essential that we have an open discussion.

People can read on the Arboleas Populares Facebook site how this is developing.

What we should expect from the administration are two things.
First.
That they get the land transfer document signed and send to the property registry ASAP.

Second.
That they meet with the British who have innovation 14 houses to explain their future policy.
So far a requested meeting by me and the AUAN lawyer has come to nothing.

[JuanC]

Hello Roger, some comments about your writing:

- Regarding the fact that the Administration is not very attentive to the issues that concern the British, it is true, they do not have British councilors and they have removed the citizen service and translation councils, therefore, the British, today , do not have any representative in the Arboleas City Council.

- On the topic of young people. I think you don't understand how it works, the PP announces provincial programs that are managed by people from outside, we did free activities managed by Arboleas ourselves. Last summer we held 20 competitions for the children of the sports schools, this summer, the PP has held 0 for the children of the town, it has held 2 for adults and people from the region.

- The water supply project for Arroyo Aceituno and its neighborhoods, from Los Garcías to Los Colorados, can be explained better by Cristóbal than by José Juan. This project was requested by Cristóbal in June 2022 and was provisionally granted in March 2023. José Juan has only gone for a project requested and drafted by Cristóbal that we hope for the good of the neighbors is resolved as soon as possible. Now we will ensure that Cristóbal's project is complied with so that the residents of these neighborhoods can have drinking water from the coal desalination plant. For more information, in the concession made to Cristóbal it was clarified that 50% of the project had to be completed by December 2023.

- Regarding the ARI of Los Requenas, it has only been in progress for one year, in 2018 the rules were approved but the ARIs also had to be approved later by the Andalusian government, so it is not 5 years, it is one year and it is due to the delay of the current corporation. It has been blocked since March because the city council was dissolved due to the elections. You forgot to say something else that was mentioned at the meeting, the reparcellations of the ARI of German and Campillo have been completed in less than a year.

- The person responsible for urban planning is currently Mayor José Juan, he has not officially delegated any powers, if the neighbors had to proceed judicially it would always be against him. Currently, the PP has stepped aside not because of the lack of powers, which everyone has, but because of the lack of knowing how to manage urban planning on the part of the party that promised the papers to all the houses by August...

In conclusion, the PP expects a miracle from Almería or Seville that will overshadow its lack of management capacity. Can't they make us believe that the mayor has no powers because he has them all, but why does he have the position?

All the best.

ARBOLEAS TOWN HALL UPDATE
______________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately we have absolutely no information from the new administration about many issues which concern the British.
I am therefore publishing what I know.
_______________________________________________________________________

The result of the election was
PSOE 5 seats      PP 4 seats        Independent 2 seats
The PP and Independents have formed a coalition as follows
Jose (PP) will be mayor for 2 years, after which Pepa (Ind) will be Mayor.
The following responsibilities will remain for 4 years.

Pepa Rodriguez takes the mayoral salary of 42k
Responsible for Finance, Urban planning, Urban works and Catastral.

Maria Garcia (PP) 32k
Responsible for Sport, culture, fiestas, education and the elderly.

Antonio Garcia (PP) 32k
Responsible for Tourism, health, housing, Social Services and Social Integration.

Maria Gilabert (PP) 22k
Responsible for Commerce, agriculture and environment,

Jose Ramos and Abel Salmeron (Ind) will receive 600 euros per month for attending the twice monthly cabinet meetings.
These two, plus the 4 PSOE Councillors will receive 200 euros for attending Council meetings every 3 months.
_____________________________________________________________________

From information in the Town Hall and PP facebook pages the Mayor and the PP team have been having meetings with officials from Almeria to try to get funding for the issues which the PP Councillors are responsible for, and we have seen a definite increase in recreation and educational activities aimed at the younger Spanish, plus a grant to improve the water supply in the Arroyo Aceituno.
______________________________________________________________________

It is clear that Pepa has been given all the important responsibilities about urban planning and Innovation 14.
Gerard Vazquez (the AUAN lawyer) and I have been trying for many weeks to have a meeting with the Mayor about important urban issues, without success.
It is reasonable to assume that this is because he has handed all this to Pepa, who has said that she will continue with the policy of the previous Mayor.
So the election has changed nothing as far as the uncertainty about Innovation 14 is concerned.
___________________________________________________________________________

The following are the urban issues we have been trying to discuss with the Mayor.
_______________________________________________________________________

LOS REQUENAS
On Monday the former Mayor, Cristobal, had a meting with the residents in Los Requenas to inform them of the situation.
(Ironic that in the 12 years when he was Mayor he had not a single meeting with residents about Innovation 14).

April 2018 the residents paid the Town Hall 600 euros each for the 3 additional urban plans.
They have now been told by the former mayor that the parcelisation project was completed in April 2023 (after 5 years!).
This was handed to Pepa in April to complete the final document to send to the Property Registry.
This document is a notarized signature by one of the partners of the Graysan company to transfer a plot of land to the Town Hall.
The Graysan owner concerned is a political ally of Pepa.
Nothing has been signed.
Why?

The PSOE has now submitted a demand to the Mayor for information and reasons why nothing has been done.
If there is no action the PSOE has said that they will submit a legal charge against the Town Hall on behalf of the residents for procrastinacion.

We wait to see how this works out. Will it result in a standoff between the PP and Pepa?
Of course many unanswered questions.
Why was nothing done between April and the election near the end of May?
Even when this parcelisation project is finally approved the final stage is the legalisation project.
Will Pepa continue with this, and who will pay the approximately 6000 euros per house legalisation tax?
_____________________________________________

INNOVATION 14 PROJECTS
Every lawyer I speak to says that the Council should not proceed with the Innovation 14 projects. The AFO process is much quicker and cheaper and delivers the same outcome for the residents.
This assumes that the Town Hall CAN proceed.
The former mayor has admitted that Los Requenas was easy because the builder cooperated  (that has so far taken 5 years!). In many other cases there are embargos which will not be removed and if the builder will not pay the back taxes the debt will fall on the house owners.
If they refuse to pay (as their lawyers say they should not do so) what will happen?
Will the town hall put a legal charge on the houses, which will probably result in a legal challenge?

In short chaos, leaving many houses in the town in limbo, with no end in sight.

Add to that there are 95 houses not registered for Council Tax, and some owners saying they will not register.
Plus some people have purchased houses with a private agreement, but not getting the agreement of the builder who is the land owner, often with outstanding debts which were not checked.

Unless the new administration sort this out (which seems very unlikely) nothing will change.

If there are people waiting for the Town hall to sort this out for you to get your escritura then you will wait for ever and leave your family with the problem when you die.
Get an AFO!!

[Roger]

ARBOLEAS TOWN HALL UPDATE
______________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately we have absolutely no information from the new administration about many issues which concern the British.
I am therefore publishing what I know.
_______________________________________________________________________

The result of the election was
PSOE 5 seats       PP 4 seats         Independent 2 seats
The PP and Independents have formed a coalition as follows
Jose (PP) will be mayor for 2 years, after which Pepa (Ind) will be Mayor.
The following responsibilities will remain for 4 years.

Pepa Rodriguez takes the mayoral salary of 42k
Responsible for Finance, Urban planning, Urban works and Catastral.

Maria Garcia (PP) 32k
Responsible for Sport, culture, fiestas, education and the elderly.

Antonio Garcia (PP) 32k
Responsible for Tourism, health, housing, Social Services and Social Integration.

Maria Gilabert (PP) 22k
Responsible for Commerce, agriculture and environment,

Jose Ramos and Abel Salmeron (Ind) will receive 600 euros per month for attending the twice monthly cabinet meetings.
These two, plus the 4 PSOE Councillors will receive 200 euros for attending Council meetings every 3 months.
_____________________________________________________________________

From information in the Town Hall and PP facebook pages the Mayor and the PP team have been having meetings with officials from Almeria to try to get funding for the issues which the PP Councillors are responsible for, and we have seen a definite increase in recreation and educational activities aimed at the younger Spanish, plus a grant to improve the water supply in the Arroyo Aceituno.
______________________________________________________________________

It is clear that Pepa has been given all the important responsibilities about urban planning and Innovation 14.
Gerard Vazquez (the AUAN lawyer) and I have been trying for many weeks to have a meeting with the Mayor about important urban issues, without success.
It is reasonable to assume that this is because he has handed all this to Pepa, who has said that she will continue with the policy of the previous Mayor.
So the election has changed nothing as far as the uncertainty about Innovation 14 is concerned.
___________________________________________________________________________

The following are the urban issues we have been trying to discuss with the Mayor.
_______________________________________________________________________

LOS REQUENAS
On Monday the former Mayor, Cristobal, had a meting with the residents in Los Requenas to inform them of the situation.
(Ironic that in the 12 years when he was Mayor he had not a single meeting with residents about Innovation 14).

April 2018 the residents paid the Town Hall 600 euros each for the 3 additional urban plans.
They have now been told by the former mayor that the parcelisation project was completed in April 2023 (after 5 years!).
This was handed to Pepa in April to complete the final document to send to the Property Registry.
This document is a notarized signature by one of the partners of the Graysan company to transfer a plot of land to the Town Hall.
The Graysan owner concerned is a political ally of Pepa.
Nothing has been signed.
Why?

The PSOE has now submitted a demand to the Mayor for information and reasons why nothing has been done.
If there is no action the PSOE has said that they will submit a legal charge against the Town Hall on behalf of the residents for procrastinacion.

We wait to see how this works out. Will it result in a standoff between the PP and Pepa?
Of course many unanswered questions.
Why was nothing done between April and the election near the end of May?
Even when this parcelisation project is finally approved the final stage is the legalisation project.
Will Pepa continue with this, and who will pay the approximately 6000 euros per house legalisation tax?
_____________________________________________

INNOVATION 14 PROJECTS
Every lawyer I speak to says that the Council should not proceed with the Innovation 14 projects. The AFO process is much quicker and cheaper and delivers the same outcome for the residents.
This assumes that the Town Hall CAN proceed.
The former mayor has admitted that Los Requenas was easy because the builder cooperated  (that has so far taken 5 years!). In many other cases there are embargos which will not be removed and if the builder will not pay the back taxes the debt will fall on the house owners.
If they refuse to pay (as their lawyers say they should not do so) what will happen?
Will the town hall put a legal charge on the houses, which will probably result in a legal challenge?

In short chaos, leaving many houses in the town in limbo, with no end in sight.

Add to that there are 95 houses not registered for Council Tax, and some owners saying they will not register.
Plus some people have purchased houses with a private agreement, but not getting the agreement of the builder who is the land owner, often with outstanding debts which were not checked.

Unless the new administration sort this out (which seems very unlikely) nothing will change.

If there are people waiting for the Town hall to sort this out for you to get your escritura then you will wait for ever and leave your family with the problem when you die.
Get an AFO!!