More problems for debt-ridden Vélez-Málaga Council, this time relating to the municipal cleaning concession, has led the Councillor for Town Planning and prospective IU mayoral candidate Salvador Marín to call for the ‘immediate rescue’ of the concession.
The company responsible for street cleaning and rubbish collection, Althenia, has announced the intention of applying for ERE – legal method for laying off staff – due to unpaid debts by the Council.
The Councillor sees this threat as an illegal way of pressurising the Council, stating that the cleaning concessionaire has to provide the service for which it is paid ‘very well’, some €8 million per year.
The action by Althenia relates to an outstanding amount of €10 million owed by the Council. So yes, the company is paid ‘very well’, in theory at least.
Salvador Marín advocates the municipalisation of public services, such as already happened with Social Welfare and is proposed for La Fortaleza nursery school, as he believes the Council can provide such services while at the same time both improving these services and saving money.