Today members of the Consell de Formentera gathered for their February plenary assembly, which began with acknowledgement of the resignation of Susana Labrador, education councillor and second vice president, and a petition to the Central Electoral Board for a new credential for Labrador's replacement, Lorena Alemany, number nine on the list of Gent x Formentera (GxF). On behalf of the cabinet, President Ana Juan thanked Labrador for her work and dedication as vice president and councillor, and wished her a speedy recovery. Opposition leader Llorenç Córdoba reiterated the message.

Eliminating co-pays at Formentera Day Centre
Plenary members came together in support of a six-month freeze on payments by islanders at the local elderly care facility. This initiative, as highlighted by Rafael Ramírez, social welfare councillor, "is among urgent measures in the Balearic Islands to offset inflation and boost the purchasing power of people and families for whom rising prices mean significant financial burden." The change means twenty-some islanders at the Formentera Day Centre will be exempt from payments for services from November 2022 to April 2023, with related costs to be met by the Consell de Formentera.

Plan for Sexual, Family and Gender Diversity
Formentera's first Island Plan for Sexual, Family and Gender Diversity (2023-2026) also received cross-party backing. Ana Juan, who is also equality councillor, called it "the first such plan in the Balearics" and thanked "all the people and groups who took part in developing it." The president cast the document as "a roadmap to developing and implementing specific, cross-cutting and transformative policies for Formentera's LGBTI community; furthering their visibility and reducing the inequalities and violence they face."

Regulation at Es Cap and Caló des Mort
The GxF-PSOE cabinet overcame abstention by Sa Unió representatives and passed proposed rules on vehicles accessing Sa Tanca d'Allà Dins in Es Cap de Barbaria in 2023. This will be the seventh season that access is regulated. From 15 May to 15 October, motor vehicle access is restricted with a barrier at kilometre 6.5 of the Es Cap road. There is a car park before the fence, and people with reduced mobility are allowed access. In the words of Rafael González, mobility councillor, "this regulation is already well established and constitutes a success story, eliminating summertime problems stemming from congestion in Es Cap. "We have also managed to create an experience that pairs nicely with islanders' hopes for a more sustainable mobility, with fewer cars and motorcycles, where cycling and walking is encouraged, and that does not involve single-day visits."

The cabinet again surmounted opposition abstention to adopt proposed regulated access and parking, 15 May to 15 October 2023, for vehicles on roads to providing access to the areas of Caló des Mort and Es Ram. Summer 2022 marked the start of regulation of this protected area, where there were also problems affecting the environment as well as parking and access for emergency vehicles.

"Regulation this first season was successful and that is why, next year, we will maintain and extend it thirty days to the second half of May and the first half of October", he said. "Like the previous proposal, it matches Formentera residents' will for a quiet island that is respectful of the environment", added Rafael González. A controller will again inform motorists of the ban on parking in the area and redirect them to the nearby town where parking is available. These prohibitions will be properly signposted, vehicles will be allowed to stop for momentary passenger drop-off and pick-up, and people with reduced mobility will have easy access.

Formentera joins healthy cities network
Plenary members also unanimously endorsed the Consell de Formentera's joining of the Healthy Spanish Cities Network (Red Española de Ciudades Saludables, RECS). The Consell pledges "to develop, jointly with Formentera Hospital, a local situation analysis and health plan, and to promote appropriate policies and strategies", said Rafael Ramírez, social welfare councillor. RECS is a group of cities in the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) that have come together under the protection of the principles and activities of the World Health Organisation.

Pine processionary
Plenary members also approved a joint proposal by Sa Unió, GxF and PSOE to urge the Consell de Formentera to develop and publish, as soon as possible, an educational push with all the necessary information (life cycle, prevention and treatment, risks, etc.) to protect islanders from the harmful effects of the pine processionary. They additionally urged the Balearic Ministry of Environment and Territory, as the competent body in healthy forests, to continue applying necessary measures to prevent and control the pine processionary on land and in the air.

Official proclamations
Plenary members also endorsed two official proclamations. On the subject of 8 March, International Women's Day, President Ana Juan affirmed that "the Consell de Formentera reaffirms its commitment to feminism, as well as the struggles to end gender violence and achieve effective equality between women and men." The second declaration, presented by Councillor Rafael Ramírez, affirmed support for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Plenary members expressed Formentera's "solidarity with and affection for the Turkish and Syrian people", local support for aid initiatives and plenary members' "availability before the Spanish government, including all the means at our disposal, to collaborate in any kind of humanitarian action."

24 February 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Yesterday Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, contacted Patrícia Gómez, health minister of the Balearic Government, to seek urgent solutions to problems stemming from a shortage of doctors at Formentera Hospital. President Juan deemed it "absolutely necessary that this dearth of professionals be rectified immediately to ensure optimal care for local patients."  The president acknowledged "enormous effort" on the part of hospital staff and the Balearic health ministry. Juan insisted, "Formentera's patients cannot lose out on quality of care."

Today, the president met with Gonzalo Espí, deputy director of management at Formentera Hospital, to inform him of inadequate staff resources. The president will meet regularly with Espí to monitor the situation of health services on the island.

23 February 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Today the Governing Board of the Consell de Formentera approved proposed concessions for sun loungers and umbrellas for seasonal services at Formentera beaches from 2023 to 2028.

According to the Office of Environment, this new contract reduces previously occupied areas of beaches by 1,378 square metres, delivering more space to other beachgoers and limiting the area allotted to concessions.

Preference was given to bids that incorporated quality, sustainable materials. Winning bidders will be responsible for cleaning the occupied space and must accredit ecologically-informed training in areas like waste management, pollution and spill prevention, stranded marine species, environmental awareness campaigns, extra cleaning of the beach area, promoting environmental values of the surroundings, climate change awareness, environmental management, etc.

The remaining contracts will be issued pending the administrative concession title from the Coastal Authority.

23 February 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera

The Office of Human Resources of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that it has published provisional lists of eighteen calls for civil servants of the General and Special Administration of the Consell Insular de Formentera to stabilise employment by extraordinary merit-based competition.

The lists can be viewed here.

21 February 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera