Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fines Contractor Over Staffing Irregularities Amid Public Service Shake-up
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has fined a joint venture between Acciona and Fomento 30,000 euros for providing inaccurate staffing data, while local officials simultaneously face political scrutiny over the long-standing decay of residential buildings in Somosierra.
Public services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are under fire after irregularities were uncovered in a contract with a joint venture between Acciona and Fomento. During a recent municipal oversight meeting, it was revealed that the City Council has fined the company 30,000 euros for maintaining parks and gardens. The penalty follows the discovery that the contractor provided inaccurate staffing data, which played a key role in a previous 34-million-euro tender that was later cancelled due to an 800,000-euro budget error.
Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Public Services, confirmed that the proceedings for this "very serious" offense began in March. While the company has challenged the fine, the City Council is already drafting a new contract. Officials hope to resolve the issue by the end of the year, with a new tender expected between October and November. The updated plan includes increasing the workforce from 125 to 220 employees and expanding the variety of plant species by 30%.
Meanwhile, a political divide has emerged over housing and urban renewal. PSOE spokesperson Patricia Hernández raised concerns about the ongoing decay of buildings 24 and 28 in Somosierra, which have remained in poor condition since the floods that hit the city two decades ago. Tensions rose when Urban Planning Councilor Zaida González questioned the existence of a 2002 report that the opposition claims links the building damage to the city’s irrigation system. While the current administration says it is working to help residents access renovation grants, the dispute over transparency and historical responsibility remains unresolved.