The municipal administration has formalised a new floral contract worth 88,000 euros. This is one of the reasons why the opposition, particularly the PSOE, is attempting to project a public image of a wasteful local government filled with unnecessary difficulties. The two-party system, particularly the PP, publicly demonstrates this devotion, viewing these contracts as important to preserve a positive public image. The request is for a supply of exactly 25,074 units of plants and flowers.
The contract for the shrubs includes the provision of over 100 species for municipal planting, as well as transportation and delivery of the specimens to the municipal nursery, in addition to the necessary technical criteria. The shrubs will be planted in various green places around the municipality, as well as on public streets, “with the aim of not only ornamental but also improving living conditions in the city,” according to the statement. The project has resulted in an increase in overtime due to the need to water or temporarily remove and reinstall some plants in the early hours of the morning, such as the geraniums on the Altamira Bridge.
Another issue that has sparked debate among opponents, as well as certain environmental groups, is the criteria for planting shrubs or flowers that are out of season and require more maintenance or dry out faster. Last summer, some plane trees in Pedro Juan Perpiñán experienced rapid drying.
High vegetation mortality
In this regard, the file recognises that the urban environment exerts “significant pressure on these plants, which suffer constant pests and diseases, in addition to attacks from vandalism, various types of accidents, and damage from trenching or other construction work.” This causes a rather high mortality rate, necessitating campaigns to replace shrubs and blooming plants in order to “maintain the municipal plant heritage.”
Last year, the budget was boosted by 10% before the year ended
The contract costs €88,433.61, but the victorious bidder, businessman Jesús Gutiérrez Santos, has offered an 18% decrease. This has won against Parkinsonia, another frequent City Council contractor in this field (for example, tree planting last year), which requested an 11.11% cut. The system, which was open but simplified to save time, did not accept annual volumes of less than €88,500. The execution term will be one year, or until the supply runs out at that level. In reality, it should be noted that in January, the Governing Board increased last year’s contract for landscape plants by 10% to €90,875 after determining that the service granted in May 2024 by €82,613 was inadequate. To put it another way, the contract received an upgrade prior to the year’s end.
This plant contract is one of those that the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) brought to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, arguing that contracts were being split by accumulating purchases from suppliers that exceeded the amount allowed for minor contracts and thus should be put out to tender.
Flower decorations for parties
In May, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office approved a €120,000 contract for ornamental decoration in urban spaces for various city events. The €120,500 contract includes three many decorations: City Hall’s façade, streets, and a big dried flower tapestry in Plaza del Congreso EucarÃstico. The contract has already been executed in 2024.
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