NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FOREIGN RESIDENTS
FUENGIROLA MONTHLY Information provided by
JULY 2013
Ayuntamiento de
Fuengirola
952 58 93 00 // 952 58 94 40
FOREIGNRESIDENTS@FUENGIROLA.ORG
NEWS
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Cheers! German Beer Festival back in town
NEWS
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Tradition and new ideas meet at fair
ISSUE Nº 1
WWW.FUENGIROLA.ORG FUENGIROLARESIDENTSRESIDENTESFUENGIROLA
Council Taxes
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Local Council Tax Calendar
Discount for people who adopt animals
ON PARADE: The 2013 Special Beach Services.
Ready for beach action The Mayor, Esperanza Oña, met with the team which will look out for the safety of beachgoers along the Fuengirola coastline throughout the summer months. THE 2013 Special Beach Services are now in full operation. Surveillance personnel have now joined the team, along with lifeguards and first aiders, and the cleaning and maintenance crews. All of these services will be coordinated by a Local Police inspector. Councillor for Beaches Ana Mula said that the beach services have worked well every summer and that this year the aim was to improve them even more.
The service has been designed by local citizens to control and organise any activities carried out on the beach and deal with situations which pose a risk to people or to provide them with information. It will also control beach laws introduced this year which make the appearance of local beaches more homogenous. Locals have been asked to collaborate to make going to the beach an enjoyable experience for
everyone, and to take special care about the amount of water they use in the showers. The surveillance team will make sure there are no illegal sales on the beach or unauthorised personnel carrying out massages. The Fuengirola coastline is divided into five areas: CarvajalEl Bote; El Bote-Plaza de San Rafael; Plaza de San Rafael-Port; Port-Calle Churruca and from Calle Churruca to the border with Mijas.
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to encourage people to adopt animals. People who adopt from the municipal shelter will be given a card which entitles them to 10 per cent discount on veterinary services and products. Local Councillor for Health, Carmen Diaz, said the municipal TV station had been running adverts which raise awareness amongst pet owners that abandoning their animals it not an option. She also said everything possible was being done to find homes for the animals at the shelter, located on the Cerros del Águila road. It is run by company CANES, which carries out campaigns at local schools to teach children to respect and care for animals. For more information, see the website www.fuengirola.es.
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Thank you... When asked to write some words of welcome to the readers of this brand-new newsletter, Fuengirola Monhly, the first words that came to my mind were ‘thank you’. Thank you for choosing to live in Fuengirola or having your holiday home here. At Fuengirola Town Hall, we are very aware that the more than 20,000 foreign residents living in Fuengirola have had the whole world to choose from and that they have chosen us. It makes us grateful and proud. In our service to the community of foreign residents, we constantly come across its members’ desire for information on all things happening in our town. We decided to do something about it and it is with enormous pleasure that I can now welcome you through our very first newsletter. This newsletter has been co-produced between Fuengirola Town Hall’s Foreign Residents’ Council and the Euro Weekly News. Although at first sight the newsletter may seem like a simple and easy accomplishment, getting this first issue
out has meant hours of work for both sides. I wholeheartedly thank Euro Weekly News for their patience while waiting for us to solve all legal matters regarding the mailing of this newsletter. At the same time, I really hope our readers – both foreigners who already live in Fuengirola on a permanent basis and those who may own property here but come and go – will find the content of this newsletter useful. Getting it mailed to you is easy: you just need to send us an e-mail to this address: foreignresidents@fuengirola.org. Do tell your family and friends about this possibility, too! And do not hesitate to give us feedback on it. Your views will be much appreciated. Thank you, again, for choosing Fuengirola! Katia Westerdahl Foreign Residents’ Councillor Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola
Enjoy the open-air cinema on the sand THE second edition of the openair Summer Cinema is running on Los Boliches beach in July and August. Last year, more than 11,000 people attended. Mayor Esperanza Oña and the manager of the Parque Miramar shopping centre, Juan Carlos Gomez, presented the programme of films which will be shown this year, accompanied by local Councillor for Beaches Ana Mula. The chosen films are Despicable Me (July 23), The Smurfs (July 30), Shrek 4 (August 6) and Cars 2 (August 13), all with English subtitles. The films start at 10.30pm, on the beach near the Roman
Mayor Esperanza Oña and Juan Carlos Gomez. monument in Los Boliches. People can take their own towels and chairs or sit on the sand. The mayor said that she had promised free films on the beach
for locals and visitors in her electoral campaign, and thanked the Miramar shopping centre for its collaboration to make the summer more attractive.
July 2013
Summer artisan market THE Summer Market will be held every Friday until August 31 from 7pm to midnight at the Roman archaeological site in Los Boliches. Entrance to this market with handmade products is free. Local Councillor for Parks and Gardens Dolores Buzon said that with the location being so unique and attractive, the town hall hoped the market would become a huge attraction for residents and visitors on the Costa del Sol. The aim of the market is to promote the work of artisans and designers in Malaga Province and encourage selfemployment. It will have 40-50 stalls with items including creative cookery and gourmet products.
Magical workshop LOCAL children have been learning magic. Thanks to an agreement with the Costa del Sol Magic and Illusionism Association, they have been able to take part in a workshop to develop their imagination and skills. Councillor for Culture Rodrigo Romero said this was just one of the activities which would be carried out thanks to the agreement, which includes magic shows in parks and a magic festival, and that he was sure it would be a huge success.
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Council supports bereaved family FUENGIROLA Town Hall has expressed its support for the family of a deceased Chinese shop-owner. The local councillor for Citizen Safety, Rodrigo Romero, accompanied by several members of the council, attended an event held in the town to protest about a robbery in a Chinese bazaar in early July. The Chinese man was seriously injured when he chased some youths who had allegedly stolen a bottle of alcohol from his shop.
When they attempted to drive away, he grabbed the back door of the car and was dragged along the ground for several metres. Meanwhile, the youths hit him with the bottle until he had to let go, police reported. He was airlifted to a hospital in Malaga, but later died. Four youths aged between 18 and 19 were arrested and one was sent to prison without bail. The others were released with charges.
Romero said how sad he was about the event and told the man’s family that they had the full support of the local council. He praised the rapid response of the police and said he hoped that the justice system would make the culprits pay for their actions to prove to the Chinese community that crime in Spain does not go unpunished. He went on to point out that there are no problems in Fuengirola between locals and the Chinese community.
Town hall sets up the fair FUENGIROLA Town Hall brought in alternative fairground attractions for Los Boliches fair after traders failed to abide by local regulations. The town hall has had an agreement with the Association of Fairground Traders since 2011, by which the traders are in charge of setting up and running fairground rides and stalls. However, the town hall reports that the association attempted to force them to change the conditions of the contract. The town hall refused to do so, as it put visitors’ safety at risk. Faced with this, the association said they would set up the fair; however, they failed to hand in documents to certify all installations were in good working order. Therefore, the town hall sought new attractions which were available at reduced prices of €1 and €2 so everyone could benefit.
PRESENTATION: Wolfgang Kramer with Councillor Ignacio Souviron and Dirk Abel.
Cheers! German Beer Festival back in town THE sixth Grand Beer Festival will be held at the Sohail Castle in Fuengirola from August 3 to 17. Tourism Councillor Ignacio
Souviron and the managers of the companies organising the event, Bierfeste 2011 SL and Abel Import SL, Wolfgang Kramer and Dirk
English and Irish ask the most questions REQUESTS for information at the Foreign Residents’ Department in Fuengirola increased by 43 per cent in May this year compared to the same month last year. Councillor for Foreign Residents Katja Westerdahl reported that there had been 1,058 requests for information in May, most of which came from English and Irish residents, followed by Finns and Swedes.
Abel, respectively, presented the festival, which will offer the best German beer and typical dishes. Tents will be installed where visitors can listen to a live orchestra. Open from 7pm to 2am during the week, and from midday to 2am at the weekend. Souviron said the festival is visited by some 100,000 people every year. While Abel and Kramer said it was a pleasure for them to organise the event in Fuengirola.
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July 2013
Number of Wi-Fi users grows by 50 per cent MORE than 20,000 people have accessed the internet for free thanks to Fuengirola’s municipal Wi-Fi network, which was launched in the town in February 2011. The network was created so that locals and visitors could connect to the internet for free while enjoying open-air public areas in the town.
The local councillor for New Technologies, Juan Lazo, said the aim had been to bring technology closer to residents, and reported that so far this year, the number of frequent users had increased by 50 per cent to 6,358. People who have registered with the service but do not make use of it are
automatically taken off the list of users. However, counting the number of people who have used it at least once since its launch, the figure amounts to 20,063. The service is currently available in Parque del Sol, Plaza de España, Parque de España, Plaza del Antiguo Ayuntamiento, Plaza de San Rafael, the square in Calle Moreno Carbonero, Parque de los Naranjos, Plaza Anabe Conde, the tourist office and the three local libraries, where there is free internet access. Users must first connect to the Red_publica_Ayto_Fue granted the licence unless what FUENGIROLA has approved ngirola network using they plan is against the law. changes to local laws regarding their name and ID and Anyone who wishes to hand out handing out leaflets or having accept the responsileaflets with opinions or information tables on the bility clause in Spanish information is permitted to do so pavements. or English. without prior authorisation. The changes were proposed by They can then use the However, if this is to be done in the Partido Popular to modify the internet 24 hours a day specific areas, the town hall must Municipal Law for Cleaning and in the above-mentioned be informed at least one day before Occupying the Public Way. areas on their laptops, of the place and time, so that They refer specifically to Councillor Souviron. phones or tablets. cleaning services can be provided. distributing or posting leaflets and Anyone who does Finally, if the tables are wanted similar items and are aimed at not register will only political parties, charities and on the pavement to provide for commercial purposes, they will be able to visit the businesses. Councillor Ignacio information must first get be granted following criteria www.fuengirola.org Souviron said the measure does authorisation from the town hall established for such cases and as page and www. not in any way violate freedom of and specify when and where they long as it does not annoy or visitafuengirola.com speech and that it will help to keep will be located. Charities and inconvenience anyone, damage The speed is limited anyone with non-commercial private property or go against the town clean and tidy. so there is no issue of Anyone wanting to have a table purposes will be automatically general interests. competition with companies who offer Fuengirola National Police station hours for Foreigners’ Procedures internet services. Certain content is blocked so that it • 9am-11am – with same day appointment* Certificates cannot be accessed by Request of NIE number and certificates • 1pm-1.30pm – without appointment children. Request for Authorisation to Return Collection of Residence Cards All the Wi-Fi spots Request for Letters of Invitation Request for urgent procedures are registered with the • 11am-1pm – with appointment * Same day appointments are needed to present National Commission Request and issuing of Residence Cards requests on the same day and 25 in total will be of the TelecomRequest and issuing of EU Citizens Registration issued from 8.30am. munications Market.
Leaflets and information tables subject to new rules
July 2013
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Register for right to vote THE Foreign Residents’ Department wishes to remind EU citizens of the need to be on the municipal census in order to vote in the next European elections. Councillor for Foreign Residents Katja Westerdahl announced that EU citizens who are registered on the local ‘padron’ and who wish to vote in the next European and municipal elections should get their names included on the census by filling in a form which can be provided by her department. In the months running up to the EU Parliamentary elections (in May 2014) the Electoral Census Office will notify EU residents in Spain so they can vote here, if they have not been contacted in previous years and have not informed the town hall. Once they have the formal declaration form, they only need to sign it and post it to the Provincial Delegation of the Electoral Census Office. If they wish, they can also do so online at https://sede.ine.gob.es. People who express their wish to vote in Spain in the next elections will be unable to do so from their own country, although they are still able to take part in general elections in their country of residence. To register on the electoral census, visit the Foreign Residents’ Department, send the form and documents by post to the Statistics Department, or go online to https://sede.fuengirola.es/Po rtalCiudadano.
HIGH-FLYING FUN: Attractions include an 18-metre high zip-line across the river.
New facilities boost local River Park FUENGIROLA’S River Park now has new facilities and activities to make it more attractive. The Internal Regime Councillor for Fuengirola, Isabel Gonzalez, announced that the park now has two kiosks with food, a zip-line, paddle boats, bouncy castles and bikes for hire. She invited locals and visitors of all ages to
visit the park which she said is unique in the province and the whole of the Andalucian coast. The aim, she said, had been to offer better services to citizens, while promoting business and creating jobs. Since it opened, the park has become popular with locals and visitors alike, and will now have two kiosks with snacks, which will be open all week.
Meanwhile, the zip-line, which is 18 metres high, travels across the river from one side to the other, covering 140 metres. It will be open every day from 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 10pm, at €4 per person. The park also has exercise equipment, ping-pong tables, basket-balls courts, cycle lanes and an area for dogs.
Tradition and new ideas meet The Feria del Carmen was held in Los Boliches from July 13 to 16 THE poster to advertise the fair was designed by Luis Alberto Ortega Moreno, 27, from Los Boliches. Erika Leiva, Contratiempo and Los Fimerod were amongst the acts which performed this year, in an event which also included traditional activities like the procession of the Virgen del Carmen, Patron Saint of Fishermen. A different activity was added this year, which was the ‘Tapas
Isabel Moreno, Councillor for Festivities and Pedro Cuevas, Deputy Mayor of Los Boliches. Cycling Route’, in which several local bars and
restaurants took part. There was also a children’s party.
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July 2013
Spectacular summer shows at the castle Miguel Poveda, Vanesa Martin, Argentina, Se llama Copla and the opera Carmen are amongst the performances which have been on the programme this summer at the Sohail Castle Festival. These are not the only performances which will be seen at the castle, as the full list is yet to be completed. The first was on July 6, with the singer from Huelva known as Argentina. The next performance, on July 19, was Vanesa Martin, which, like all the others, started at 10.30pm and was much enjoyed by the audience. On July 21, the finalists from the last edition of Spanish folklore song competition Se llama Copla perfomed to the delight of many.
Vanesa Martin delighted audience.
On July 29, it will be the turn of company Concerlirica, who will be performing the opera Carmen. On August 31, singer Miguel Poveda will be the one to light up the night with his singing talent. The Councillor for Culture, Rodrigo Romero, announced that the ‘Noches del Castillo’ (Castle Nights) event, will be managed by local company, Espectaculos Mundo, and that tickets to the concert can be purchased from www. malagaentradas.com
Police crack down on the sale of bootleg goods locally IN the first five months of this year, Fuengirola Local Police seized almost 9,000 articles which breached intellectual and industrial property laws. The local councillor for Citizen Safety, Rodrigo Romero, said that this was a considerable rise compared to the same period last year. For example, in all of 2012, 9,770 items were seized. This, he said, was a result of the intense work which has been carried out by the Local Police, who can only
The local Councillor for Citizen Safety Rodrigo Romero with Jose Sanchez, who is in charge of Promotion for the Costa del Sol Community of Municipalities.
control the market with local laws, while intellectual and industrial property laws come under the jurisdiction of the National Police. Romero met with the
Government Sub-Delegate and representatives of the Costa del Sol Community of Municipalities last year to discuss the matter, which is a problem along the coast. Almost 86 per cent of the
bootleg items seized are DVDs and CDs, followed by sunglasses, handbags, watches, underwear, headphones and other items such as shoes, wallets, caps, belts and t-shirts.
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COUNCIL TAXES If you are liable for council taxes and/or fees, please check the local tax calendar in order to confirm the payment options for the current tax year. Remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that the bill is paid in due time. The financial year runs from 1st January through to December 31st. Local Council Tax Calendar Year 2013 There is a choice of two payment dates available to choose a date that best suits your budget. Option 1 Known as payment in advance (pago anticipado). It has a 5 per cent discount.
Council Tax
Payable from…
to…
I.V.T.M.
01/04/2013
30/04/2013
I.B.I.
01/05/2013
31/05/2013
The above mentioned bills have been divided in two instalments. This first instalment corresponds to 70 per cent of the bill. Remember that, if you are not registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, or if you are registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, but have outstanding debts with the council, you will also have to pay the second instalment of the 30 per cent, mentioned in Option 2.
Council Tax
Payable from…
to…
I.A.E.
02/09/2013
30/09/2013
Tasa Entrada de Vehí culos.
01/04/2013
30/04/2013
Mercadillo***
31/03/2013
*With regard to the tax on Economic Activities (I.A.E.), the subsidy applies only for the municipal quotas and has no effect on the provincial charge. **This subsidy cannot be added to the payment of council taxes made by direct debit order. Payment by direct debit order includes the 5 per cent discount. ***5 per cent discount on market fees if paid all at once before 31/03/2013. Option 2 (without the 5 per cent discount)
Council Tax
I.V.T.M.
Second instalment (30 per cent)
01/05/2013 – 02/08/2013
I.B.I. GEMER
First instalment (70 per cent)
(Gestion Medioambiental Residuos)
Council taxes paid all at once 100% • Tasa Entrada Vehí culos • I.A.E. • O.V.P. Mesas y Sillas • O.V.P. Expositores • Mercadillo
01/11/2013 – 31/12/2013
01/06/2013 – 20/09/2013
01/11/2013 – 31/12/2013
Pending notification
01/11/2013 – 31/12/2013
01/05/2013 01/10/2013 01/04/2013 01/04/2013 01/04/2013
– 02/08/2013 – 20/12/2013 - 31/05/2013 – 31/05/2013 – 31/05/2013
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July 2013
COUNCIL TAXES Council Taxes and Fees I.V.T.M. (Impuesto de Circulación de Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica). The I.V.T.M. is the road tax charged to each motor vehicle (car, motorcycle, moped, caravan, etc). I.B.I. (Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles). I.B.I. is a residential local property tax charged to each dwelling (villa, garage, storage room, apartment, commercial premises, etc). I.A.E. (Impuesto sobre Actividades Económicas). Tax on Economic Activities (for businesses, premises and/or professionals). Entrada de Vehículos. (Entrance of Vehicles) applies to the payment to be made when having a garage or parking space (also within the community and even if you do not own a motor vehicle) and the access to it is through the public sidewalk. GEMER (Gestión Medioambiental Residuos). Environmental Management of Waste. To be paid by owners of properties (commercial premises, villas, flats, apartments...). Replaces the former garbage fee (RESOL). O.V.P. Mesas y Sillas. Use of the Public Road with Tables & Chairs. If you have premises and you are using the public road with tables and chairs, you will have to pay the O.V.P. fee. O.V.P. Expositores. Use of the Public Road with Outdoor Pavement Display &/or Notice Boards. If you have premises and you are using the public road with outdoor pavement displays and/or notice boards, you will have to pay the O.V.P. fee. MERCADILLO = Street market fee.
FAQs I am registered on the Fuengirola Population Register and have no outstanding debts with the council. Do I have to pay both instalments of the bills of I.V.T.M., I.B.I and GEMER? No. If you are registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, and have no outstanding debts with the council, you will only have to pay the first instalment. Who has to pay the second instalment of I.V.T.M., I.B.I. and GEMER? Citizens, liable for the payment, who are not registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, or who are registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1,
2013, but have outstanding debts with the council. I am paying my council taxes and fees by direct debit order. How are you going to charge them? If you are not registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, or if you are registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, but have outstanding debts with the council, we will charge two instalments. A first one of the 70% and a second one of the 30%. If you are registered on the Fuengirola Population Register before January 1, 2013, and have no outstanding debts with the council, we will only charge the first instalment (the 70%).
I paid RESOL by direct debit order. Do I have to set up a new direct debit order for GEMER? No. The direct debit order for RESOL is valid for GEMER. When do I have to pay the new council tax known as GEMER? The council will send you a letter which tells you how much you have to pay and the date your payment is due. If you do not receive this letter in person, the notification will be published in the official bulletin. Therefore, if by June 2013 you have no information on what or when to pay GEMER, please get in touch with us. THE GEMER tax has been sent to banks for residents who had direct debited their RESOL tax. Confirm with your bank if has been paid and get a receipt.
For any further information, please contact us: Concejalia de Extranjeros Residentes. 4th floor of the Town Hall. Monday – Friday 9am–2pm. Email: foreignresidents@fuengirola.org