During the City Council meeting on July 15, 2024, several texts were discussed and adopted. The approval of the main 2023 budget, the report on artistic and cultural education, exhibition contracts, and support for the Stade Niçois Rugby are the key points to remember.
After several months without a City Council meeting, Christian Estrosi and the elected officials revisited important issues to debate for the future of the city of Nice. Between heated debates at the beginning of the session and unanimous votes, here are the main points of these seven hours of debate.
Two conflicting views on the economy
The Council began with the approval of the administrative account of the main budget for the 2023 fiscal year. Marc Concas, Deputy in charge of finance services, emphasized the inflation experienced by France, and by extension Nice, with a 4.9% increase. Nevertheless, the city of Nice saw an increase in revenue of 9.3 million euros. This increase was due to public street parking and the fight against tax fraud. Consequently, the debt decreased. In 2023, it was estimated at 574 million euros. Ultimately, it stands at 547 million euros. The outcome is therefore positive for the majority.
However, EELV-The Ecologists and its opposition councilor Fabrice Decoupigny disagreed. According to him, in the plan, 120 million in investments were planned but some were not carried out, leading to 22.5 million euros in savings. Certain defined sectors are those with less budget. The largest being the municipal police equipment with 75% savings and building accessibility. Sylvie Bonaldi also pointed out that numerous investment deferrals are in building energy renovations. She thus confirmed Mr. Decoupigny’s statements.
Christian Estrosi defended by responding that it is not under the city’s jurisdiction and stated, “as often, you mix everything up.” Jean-Luc Gagliolo, deputy mayor, indicated that schools are being greened and invited Mr. Decoupigny to come and see what is happening. Several deputies echoed these sentiments, such as Marc Concas, “an investment is something alive, not something dead.” Ultimately, all the texts were adopted despite some opposition votes and abstentions.
On the cultural side
The first point of the City Council was on the report of artistic and cultural education. Jean-Luc Gagliolo indicated that Nice is the largest city in France with the 100% EAC label. He recalled the existence of the “100% Culture at School” program launched in 2021, which allows all students from kindergarten to fifth grade to access artistic and cultural practice and meet artists. Starting in September 2024, 117 schools will benefit from this program. Furthermore, the “Growing in Culture” program allows public and private school students to benefit from mediation. The partnership with museums, the conservatory, the opera, and the film library remains in place. There are also writing workshops for children with specialized authors. The culture pass also served 2,000 young people.
The second point revisited various cultural partnerships. The renewal of the partnership with the École du Louvre includes two cycles. One on the introduction to art history covering general art history in Europe from the Renaissance to the reign of Louis XIV. The second on Giotto e compagni, the artistic revolution around 1300. The exhibition contract between the Matisse Museum in Nice, the Kunsthaus Zürich, and the Canal Foundation located in Madrid, is up for discussion. It aims to make the Métamorphoses exhibition available in Madrid from October 22, 2024, to January 11, 2025. Robert Roux explained that this would aid the international prominence of the Matisse Museum: “these itinerancies demonstrate the major cultural strength and interest of our museums and collections on an international scale.”
An agreement with the Women’s and Family Rights Information Center was also on the agenda. It aims to raise awareness of gender equality issues, violence against women, and highlight and develop the role of inclusion and the wellness factor in museum attendance. Finally, the allocation and disbursement of subsidies in the cultural realm were reviewed. All these texts were adopted unanimously.
A new stadium?
Pascal Condomitti reiterated the Mayor of Nice’s intention to support the Stade Niçois Rugby in its bid to join the PRO D2 championship after an exceptional season. Thus, an additional subsidy was to be discussed as well as the rehabilitation of the Arboras complex to meet the requirements of the National Rugby League. Lastly, Mr. Condomitti announced the construction of a stadium for 10,000 to 12,000 people thanks to shareholders. All these texts were also adopted unanimously.
