The councilors of the PSD, in opposition to the Chamber of Lagoa, wanted the municipality to assume the powers that the Government wants to transfer to the municipalities in the field of animal health and protection and food and culture safety.
José Inácio and Mário Vieira, the two social-democratic councilors, voted against the proposals presented by the PS executive to reject the powers provided for in two of the various diplomas published by the Government, relating to the ongoing decentralization process. With regard to new assignments in the health area, the PSD also rejects them.
Francisco Martins, mayor of Lagoa, announced long ago that it does not intend to assume any of the competences that are being decentralized from the Central State to the municipalities, at least for the time being – in 2021, all municipalities will have to accept them.
But, in the view of the Social Democrats, the autarchy would have every interest in taking on some of the new attributions.
This is the case of competences in the field of animal health and protection and food safety. "It is in the best interest of strengthening the exercise of the powers that the municipality already has in this area, directly and indirectly, that it is already accepted and assumed in 2019", believe the two opposition councilors.
The position is justified “by the fact that this is really a competence and not a simple task, which will complete a set of responsibilities that the municipality already has in this area and in which it is reinforcing its mission, as is the example of the construction of the center of stray animals, as well as in the support and protocols signed with entities supporting animal health and welfare, in addition to the construction of urban structures to shelter them».
The arguments for defending the acceptance of the attributions of management, valorization and conservation of part of the cultural heritage are the same. The example given is "the licensing of noisy activities in which cultural activities are carried out, not entailing expenses for the municipality and may be a factor in the realization of revenue in the exercise thereof, but also because it allows a service to be brought closer to potential interested parties. who carry out cultural activities in our county».
This competence would also contribute "to the reinforcement of the municipal mission, as well as to an effective control and knowledge of this type of activities in the municipality, a fundamental factor to better assess the management of the existing and necessary cultural offer in and for the municipality".
With regard to attributions in the health domain, the PSD councilors agree with the executive and voted in favor of rejection. In this case, the opposition because it considers that "the essential conditions for the assumption of competence are not guaranteed, namely its financial compensation for the exercise of the same".
With regard to this specific competence, which is concerned with «a very sensitive and necessary area for the health and well-being of citizens», the social-democratic councilors «regret once again that the competence proposal does not come with a package appropriate to the reality of the obligations included therein'. In his view, the values presented do not allow the municipality "to restore the minimum conditions for a decent offer for this area".
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