The Metropolitan Council met yesterday for the pre-summer session.
First of all, the Council confirmed the replacement in the General Directorate of Services of prefect Drévet by Lauriano Azinheinha, who is leaving the elected officials’ bench to partially transition to a senior civil servant role (since he remains a councilor and departmental Vice-President).
The approval of the 2016 Administrative Account could not fail to provoke criticism from the opposition and some verbal sparring, of which Christian Estrosi is a master.
However, nothing particularly special occurred, and it can be assumed that the “macro-compatibility” between the two main actors, the metropolitan president and Patrick Allemand, contributed to the calm atmosphere. It must be said that Christian Estrosi showed himself to be less of a “matador” than usual throughout the session.
Illustrated with the expertise attributed to him by the president of the finance committee, Philippe Pradal, the management results of 2016 are presented in a positive light.
The central issue remains the high debt of 1.2 billion euros, which involves a significant and long-term financial burden.
For Christian Estrosi, this debt corresponds to the financing of infrastructure and other investments that will prove to be productive, leading to an increase in the territory’s wealth. In discussions with his critics, he highlighted the good control of operating expenses, which ensures no negative impact on the debt reduction capacity, which, on the contrary, improved from 12.5 years in 2015 to 10.8 years in 2016.
The current low level of borrowing rates also favors this policy, even if a change in the financial situation could turn against this option, making it dangerous. However, it must be acknowledged that there is no indication of such a reversal, at least in the short and medium term.
In any case, the average rate of financing his debt (1.86% on average over 20 years) can only make the president of the Metropolis optimistic about good governance of this aspect.
Moreover, how can we forget that the Region, from which Christian Estrosi resigned the presidency but not the influence… and the key to the treasury, is increasingly involved in co-financing certain investments within the Region-Metropolis plan.
In 2016, the regional community granted 25.6 million euros, allowing Christian Estrosi to note the substantial difference from the 2015 situation: 1.1 million euros.
And in response to Patrick Allemand’s criticism regarding the exceptionality of certain regional aids, he argued that they should be considered “structural,” hence permanent.
A jab at the former First Vice-President of the Region, whom Christian Estrosi has always accused of not being a good defender of the Niçois cause?
More anecdotal, yet not without wit, are the criticisms from Ms. Arnautu (FN), who proposed to reduce by 50% the allowances received by councilors and to fully cut the representative expenses of the President of the Metropolis!
Another core resolution of the assembly was the adoption of the guidelines of the Regional Economic Development, Innovation, and Internationalization Scheme and its metropolitan adaptation.
This plan asserts “the strong and joint will” of the two bodies “to be a driving force in economic governance” for economic diversification, innovation, and internationalization policies.
Its objective is to create an ecosystem for growth and employment-driving sectors within the framework of a future smart city, where, alongside research and higher education players, there will be local start-ups and large industrial groups.
The first example of this virtuous cycle is the establishment of a CEA Tech branch (Alternative Energies Commission), a research body in terms of technology patents, which will benefit the territory’s companies with its expertise. A first team is expected to settle in early 2018.
The Lingostière sector is intensifying in commercial spaces: the Carrefour and Leroy Merlin brands, already present, are planning renovation and… expansion.
The aim for Carrefour is the extension of the existing shopping center by approximately 16,000 m², including 11,442 m² of additional retail space. The Leroy Merlin project involves the demolition and reconstruction of the existing store for a final area of 15,500 m². Work will begin in 2019, with completion by 2021.
Finally, a wish was voted against the presence of predatory wolves threatening pastoralism in the highlands. Presented by the mayor of Saint-Etienne de Tinée following recent incidents, it is addressed directly to the Prime Minister to prompt various measures, aiming to eradicate this harmful phenomenon to the rural population.
It should be noted that in France, the wolf (canis lupus) is officially a strictly protected species. According to the National Forest Office, the population of “canis lupus” is around 300 units.
On your marks. Ready? Fire! Meanwhile, the mayor of Saint-Etienne de Tinée can reassure her constituents: she has done her duty.
