Publication of the Register of Councillor’s Interests

Los Verdes of Orihuela have filed a Motion, for inclusion and discussion at the next Pleno (Town Council meeting), that a full public disclosure is made of the financial data and outside interests of the elected Councillors of Orihuela.

Los Verdes do not consider that it is enough to only register with the General Secretariat of the Council the individual income and possible conflict of interests, but that as so requested by the Ley de Suelo, that these matters are made public knowledge for the sake of the greatest transparency to avoid possible fabrications and present and future corrupt practices, taking into account the current times.

The ‘Ley de Suelo‘, in force since last May, 2007, reads in the Ninth additional provision amending, among others, Article 75.7 of the Code of Local Regime: "Local representatives, as well as non-members elected to the Board of Local Government, make statement on possible causes of conflict and to provide them with any activity or may provide income. Statements were also made of their assets and participation in companies of all kinds, with information of companies owned by them and liquidations of taxes on income, Heritage and, where appropriate, Societies. Such statements, made in the designs approved by the respective full, will take place before the inauguration, on the occasion of cessation and end of the mandate, and when changes the factual circumstances. The annual declarations of assets and activities will be published on an annual basis, and in any case at the time of completion of the mandate, under the terms set by the municipal statute. "

The Orihuela Council, like many others in Spain, does not meet this standard obligation. Neither does it appear that said circumstances are regulated in any municipal regulation or statute. However, this does not prevent the implementation of the aforementioned article of the Act, since there are municipalities, such as Seville or Vigo among others, that give effect to the Act by publishing such a declaration of their assets in their municipal websites.

Therefore, Los Verdes want the Town Council of Orihuela, in the meeting of the Pleno, to agree to the immediate publication, or before the 1st January 2009, the statement of assets and conflicts if any, of Councillors and Asesores (advisers) of this Council on the official municipal website a media that is accessible to all citizens, in compliance with Ley 8 / 2007, del Suelo.

Similarly, that they publish on the Council website, in pursuance of the said Act, the annual declarations of income and assets of the Councillors, Advisers, and non-elected members of the Board of Local Government, if any.

The agreement by the PP ruled Town Council to the open publication of Councillor’s interests would be an important step towards an ‘Open Government‘, a right that Los Verdes strongly believe the Electorate must have.