The July session, the last of the political term, closed pending issues with 30 government team dictations and three opposition motions. Most points were of a technical-administrative nature, including credit recognitions, declarations of special interest for works, subsidy grants, and budget items.
The tourist tax initiated an ideological debate with the provisional approval of the ordinance to increase it. Lluís Matas (Junts) defended the management, arguing that the increase from one euro in hotels and 0.60 in tourist apartments to 2 euros and 1.20 respectively would not discourage visits. The item was approved with votes from PSC, ERC, and Junts, abstentions from Crida per Sabadell and Comuns, and negative votes from PP, Vox, and the non-attached councilor Gabriel Fernández.
The three-year extension of the waste collection and street cleaning contract with SMATSA, in effect since 2012 and surrounded by controversy due to the Mercuri case, generated an intense debate. Lawyer Raül Garcia Barroso warned about the contract's original nullity and potential criminal liabilities. Deputy Mayor Mar Molina defended the extension due to the need for time to study the new tender, while the opposition criticized the delay. Finally, the extension was approved with favorable votes from PP and Junts, abstention from Vox, and negative votes from left-wing groups and the non-attached councilor.
The session was suspended when about twenty people linked to the pro-independence left unfurled a banner and attempted to read a manifesto in the council chamber. The protest responded to obstacles in granting permits for cultural and recreational activities in this sphere. The session resumed in the hall after the manifesto reading.
None of the three motions presented by Crida, the non-attached councilor, and Vox prospered. The motion to recover the Can Llong farmhouse was rejected. Gabriel Fernàndez's proposal for a civic electoral campaign pact received negative votes from all groups. Vox's motion against the Generalitat's Territorial Sector Plan for electricity and photovoltaic generation was also unanimously rejected.
