Ponte de Lima is making waves in the national tourism economy. In your opinion, has the current government been looking at the North, and in particular the Minho region, with the right ‘eyes’?
There is a situation that we have to take into account, the differentiation that is being made between large and small territories, and some measures are being prepared by the government without taking this into account, clearly damaging territories like ours. I’m referring, for example, to the legislation that the government is preparing regarding Alojamento Local (Local Accommodation) licenses.
There is a lack of consideration as to what the different identities are, because, in safeguarding the autonomy of local power, respect for local policies should never be ruled out because, in their conception, there is effective knowledge of a particular reality, which is not the same for the whole country. We don’t mean to underestimate the importance of the existence of development strategies and general guidelines for the country and the regions, or that the different national programmes should embrace all these realities. There are measures that could be generalized, as is the case with «Mais Habitação» (More Housing), but there are others that should not be so disproportionate and blind to the whole country, as if the whole country were the same. Instead, the programme should provide mechanisms for adjusting to each of the realities that are similar to each other. Therefore, without detracting from the importance and reinforcing the need for effective action by the government, it is important that these measures do not strangle or discourage investment in areas such as Ponte de Lima, particularly with regard to the important economic and urban regeneration momentum created by Local Accommodation.
The reality of major urban centres or highly established tourist areas is not the same as that of low-density territories. Being an activity that, as has happened throughout the country, has contributed significantly to the recovery, enhancement and stimulation of private buildings, in Ponte de Lima it is the only viable way of meeting the demand for tourist accommodation that existing hotel units are unable to provide. Therefore, even for the major centres, this measure should take into account specific allocations for each reality, for areas in the cities or areas in the country, which make it possible to guarantee a balance between the supply of local accommodation and the housing function. We do believe that this condition, in major cities, and taking the current scenario as a starting point, should only be placed on new investments, because otherwise it will lead to new financial problems for those families whose income currently depends on this activity.
In the same vein, we believe it is totally unfair and unconscionable to apply an extra tax contribution on Local Accommodation to finance affordable housing policies, as if they were to blame for the current housing crisis, when, in reality, it was the inoperability and lack of timely regulation of this sector that led, in some urban areas, to an imbalance between housing and Local Accommodation. It will be up to the state, namely the Tax Authority, to be more effective in inspecting entrepreneurs in the sector who do not contribute the taxes that are actually due or those who constitute the untaxed parallel economy. Also, in relation to taxation and the parallel economy, special attention should be paid to undeclared (intermediary) subletting, which contributes greatly to the aforementioned parallel economy, as well as to the inflation of rental prices, often not the property rate, but the rate for a «room», for more or less short periods of time.
Sustainability and climate change are two issues that are on the agenda more than ever, whether in local authorities, the country or the world. In this case, and as mayor, what actions have you taken in your municipality in this regard?
The Municipality of Ponte de Lima is part of the ALTO MINHO ADAPT - Alto Minho Intermunicipal Climate Adaptation Plan (PO SEUR) project, which aims to strengthen the abilities of the municipalities of Alto Minho to adapt to climate change. The aim is to take part in the inter-municipal task force that will draw up this plan and implement the corresponding communication, involvement and awareness-raising program.
There is also the Municipal Climate Action Plan, which involves providing support to the Escola Superior Agrária as part of the procedure for drawing up the plan that we intend to develop. The Municipality of Ponte de Lima is continuing to implement the activities planned under the Covenant of Mayors, a voluntary European movement involving local and regional authorities in the fight against climate change.
And we are involved in more initiatives that promote sustainability, particularly energy sustainability. To this end, work has been carried out on local government public infrastructures with decorative and public lighting systems, continuing the actions that have been carried out under the PDCT - NORTE 2020. The aim of these interventions is to reduce electricity consumption at each lighting point, and significant savings can be achieved by directly replacing the existing fixture with an LED one.
Taking into account the funding opportunities considered to be a priority of the new EU Framework, in the context of the priority given to the Digital Transition, we will implement, in the context of the improvement of social housing buildings, measures aimed at intelligent energy management and the use of renewable energies. We also intend to develop partnerships with associations and educational institutions to implement projects of environmental interest. We also want to promote initiatives to encourage the use of soft modes (bicycle and pedestrian) which, among other advantages, will reduce CO2 emissions, namely by creating links to the Ponte de Lima Urban Area Access Cycle and Pedestrian Paths (PAMUS).
There is also the implementation of the actions foreseen in the Study for the Development of Bio-waste Collection Systems in the municipality of Ponte de Lima, namely the feasibility of the investments identified therein that promote the separate collection of organic waste and the consequent reduction in the disposal of unsorted waste, possibly in partnership and with a possible framework in the funding notices that may be made available through PO SEUR or RRP.
The municipality is also planning a project for the «Selective Collection of Non-Domestic Food Biowaste in the Urban Centre of Ponte de Lima» (Pilot Project), with funding approved by the Environmental Fund under the «RecolhaBio – Support for the implementation of projects for the selective collection of biowaste» notice.