It would be hard to say that this session will go down in history for the importance of its arguments and the richness of the debate. Beyond the routine deliberations, which we will come back to, the only political act worth noting was the departure of Olivier Bettati’s group from the chamber, a group consisting of three units, which had requested a modification of the internal regulations in order to form a group and thus benefit from the consequent advantages.
A request, needless to say, that was rejected, and to which Christian Estrosi opposed the formation of a group within the metropolitan majority, which could cost more than 400,000 euros a year in the budget.
No further explanations were given by the group “Our Party is Nice,” so we are left with nothing more than their exit from the scene until more information is available.
As for the deliberations, Louis Nègre, first vice-president, assumes responsibility for general coordination: He is the true number 2 of this territorial organization, which has also established a new, simpler technocratic structure to ensure more efficient and effective management.
Another deliberation worth highlighting is the creation of a learning campus in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This initiative is part of the Eco-Valley National Interest Operation (OIN) and the support that public institutions want to provide to companies that will invest there. The Future Investments governmental program promotes jobs based on work-study programs that allow for the gradual acquisition of professional skills and enable pre-recruitment.
An important topic was also the agricultural policy program to support municipalities in acquiring land and making improvements for the installations of farmers.
If the agricultural economic activities in the area are a wealth stemming from the tradition of sheep farming in the highlands and the cultivation of fruit and vegetables in the Var plain, the sustainability of these spaces is called into question by the OIN.
The allocation of this program (200,000 euros per year) is visibly not up to its statement, and one needs a strong dose of optimism to think that with such a modest sum one can obtain a leverage effect capable of generating strong mobilization among stakeholders (as stated in the accompanying note). It would be interesting to know where the author found empirical evidence for such a claim!
Finally, the social policy of the metropolis has traditional financial support from the European Union through funds, primarily the European Social Fund (ESF), the Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and others, which are granted within the framework of the National Operational Program 2014-2020. In the previous program (2007-2013), the metropolis was the recipient of funding (actually it is co-financing since the European funds integrate local spending) of about 6 million euros.
Thanks to this funding, the Metropolis, through its services and agreed associations, manages the local plan for the integration and employment of the most disadvantaged people. The report of the previously mentioned period records 3,186 jobs, half of which are stable and sustainable.
We can only commend Madame Dominique Estrosi-Sassone for keeping the technical framework and the debate on track, despite the interventions of far-right groups with hateful tones and content, refusing any controversy and the deviations of an ideological discussion.
To conclude, we must acknowledge the motions passed that concern: Maintaining the Nice-Tende-Cuneo-Turin railway line, territorial reform with the retention of the General Council and the abolition of the Regional Council (Delenda Massilia!), the refusal of a prison location in Saint-Laurent du Var, and finally, the rejection of the government proposal concerning the exclusion of certain territories from the scope of social cohesion urban contracts within city policy.
This shows that it’s easy to talk about reform, the challenge now is to act.
*Organizational Chart of the Metropolis
The delegations:
*Louis NEGRE, 1st Vice-president, is in charge of coordinating metropolitan policies, Isabelle BRES is responsible for training, crafts, and trades, Alain FRERE is in charge of cultural action, Colette FABRON is responsible for public services in rural areas, Honoré COLOMAS is in charge of relations with major institutions, elected officials’ associations, and intercommunal cooperation, Gisèle KRUPPERT is responsible for solidarity, Gérard MANFREDI is in charge of agriculture and forestry, Xavier BECK is responsible for legal affairs and relations with the Principality of Monaco, Jean-Michel SEMPERE is responsible for relations with the development council, Joseph SEGURA is in charge of major risk prevention, Charles SCIBETTA is responsible for economic activity zones, Françoise MONIER is responsible for school transport, Jean-Paul DALMASSO is responsible for commerce, Jean THAON is in charge of the road infrastructure plan, Christophe TROJANI is in charge of coastal protection and promotion, Fernand BLANCHI is in charge of developing valley activities, Loïc DOMBREVAL is responsible for biodiversity, Joseph CALZA is in charge of intermodality, Jean-François SPINELLI is responsible for promoting villages, Michel MEINI is in charge of decentralized cooperation.
The commissions
Finance and Human Resources: President: Philippe PRADAL Vice-presidents: Martine BARENGO-FERRIER, Nadia LEVI, and Gérard STEPPEL.
Housing, Urban Renewal, and Social Cohesion: President: Dominique ESTROSI-SASSONE Vice-presidents: Josiane BORGOGNO and Murielle MOLINARI.
Employment, Economic Development: President: Christian TORDO Vice-presidents: Jean-Marie AUDOLI, Michel GHETTI, and Roger MARIA.
Planning, Transportation, and Urbanism: President: Jannine GILLETTA, Vice-presidents: Patricia DEMAS, Richard LIONS, and Anne SATTONNET.
Tourism, International Relations, Euro-Mediterranean, and Sport: President: Rudy SALLES Vice-presidents: Philip BRUNO, Agnès RAMPAL, and José COBOS.
Metropolitan Roadways: President: Jean-Marie BOGINI Vice-presidents: Paul BURRO, Jean-Paul FABRE, and Alexandre FERRETTI.
Water, Sanitation, and Energy: President: Hervé PAUL Vice-presidents: Bernard ASSO, Stéphane CHERKI, and Pierre-Paul DANNA.
Cleanliness and Collection: President: Pierre-Paul LEONELLI Vice-presidents: Angelin BUERCH, Bernard CORTES, and Henri GIUGE.
Environment, Higher Education, and Research: President: Véronique PAQUIS
Vice-presidents: Paule BECQUAERT, René CLINCHARD, and Claude GUIGO.
Rural Development and Digital Coverage of the Territory: President: Antoine VERAN Vice-presidents: Christelle D’INTORNI, Jean-Pierre ISSAUTIER, and Jean-Michel MAUREL.
Port and Maritime Activities: President: Roger ROUX Vice-presidents: Jean-François DIETERICH and Dominique SCHMITT.
