ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN PROPERTY OWNERS – CALPE

Minutes of the GENERAL MEETING held on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 10.30 am at the Casa de Cultura,

1. Introduction

The President thanked everyone for attending and welcomed Laurie Rapier from Aladdin’s Cave to talk about “Antiques”.

2. Guest Speaker

Laurie, who writes for Round Town News, gave some very useful advice on obtaining valuations and stressed that people need to obtain prices from more than one dealer, in different towns. In his question and answer session he said that he has not had good experiences from antique associations and advised members to be extremely wary and use their own common sense. When asked, he replied that his definition of an “antique” is anything prior to the 1930s, but collectibles from other periods can be valuable. If the date is not known, ask the advice of a specialist, but be careful about book prices as they often over-price. His company’s standard charge for a valuation is 25€ and it is necessary to make an appointment. He said that auctions can be rather ‘hit and miss’ and the Spanish are not interested in porcelain, glass or china from England. Such items need to be priced in England but the transportation costs, etc, can make that expensive. However, there are a number of retail shops which deal in antiques, etc, and Laurie was willing to put members in touch with these if required. He closed by saying that the world of antiques is not a safe market any more in view of the present financial situation, and he could only see it getting worse.

3. Apologies For Absence

Apologies were received from Roger and Margaret Rail.

4. Minutes of the Last General Meeting

The minutes of the last General Meeting held on 6 May 2008, and printed on the back of today’s Agenda, were confirmed as a true record. (Proposed: Brian Reynolds Seconded: Harry Macklin).

5. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

6. President’s Report

Keith said that he had abandoned the speech he’d written for this morning in view of the political changes to be discussed. He reported:-

a. There is still great concern about Residents’ Certificates and he hoped that an office would be opened in Altea. The National Police office in Denia Port has now closed and so far we haven’t been able to determine where it has moved to..

b. There is no sign of the promised opening of the Altea  office in October.

c. Barbara Markham had tragically died shortly after the last General Meeting, and he told members with paperwork problems, etc, to have a word with him after the meeting.

d. In some cases authorities are now asking for an NIE Certificate. As from 1 October the original NIE form is no longer acceptable and it is now necessary to get a card. We have no further information on this at the moment but when we do it will be published on the web page and in local newspapers. If you need to renew your driving licence you will certainly need this card.

e. In response to a query, members were informed that Spanish banks are increasing their guarantee to 20,000€, but Keith added that AFPO  does not give advice on financial matters.

f. The President then gave a brief summary of the political situation now that Luis Serner had gone and Ximo Tur of  the BLOC Party is Mayor. Apparently, the Socialists wanted to bring in a 25% tax increase but because Tur and Antonio Romera felt unable to accept that idea they have joined the PP. Javier Morato is ‘Number 2’ but we now wait to see who will take over the ‘sub positions’ in the Council and, most importantly, the Urbanismo Department, as we have more dealings with that office than any other. We will seek a meeting with Ximo Tur and inform members as soon as we have any further information.

A question and answer session produced the following:-

(i) The BLOC Party is so called because BLOC is Valenciano for “Group” and it is the Valencian political party.

(ii) Ximo Tur holds Council meetings in Valenciano, which is extremely difficult to follow.

(iii) With regard to demolitions, we have found it very difficult to persuade the politicians to implement the law  even whilst acknowledging that a construction is illegal.

(iv) Many people are of the opinion that the ‘dismissal’ of Luis Serner is illegal, but it was a legal political move .

(v)The number of foreign voters was said to be only 400.

(vi) With regard to the poor participation by ex-pats in the voting elections, Carole Saunders stressed that in order to have a say people must vote. Fred added that the number of voting ex-pats in Calpe is too insignificant for the Town Hall to take notice, and supported Carole’s remarks.

(vii) If an individual seeks a meeting with Ximo Tur they can ask for it to be in Castelliano, but members were concerned at the lack of information in English from the Town Hall. That of course will be the roll of the foreigners office

(viii) Brian Skerrett stressed that AFPO must work with whichever party is in power, in order to act for its members. We should not be against the Opposition, but should keep in touch with all sides.

At this point Linda Townsend arrived and spoke to the audience. She said that the reason for the lack of confidence in Luis Serner was the lack of activity from the PSOE since they came into power. At this moment a Council meeting is taking place to decide who will do what, but she confirmed that she will again be responsible for residents and hoped that the Foreigners’ Office would be re-opened. If this were not possible, then there would be a place made available in the Town Hall, staffed with a multi-lingual assistant, where foreigners could take their queries.

Linda then conducted a question and answer session during which she confirmed that moves would be made to reduce the debt and that the body which supervises debts of Town Halls has not questioned the situation. John Godfrey was very concerned that the PSOE hadn’t been invited also to the meeting to speak to members and Keith said that he had contacted them on several occasions without success, but John pointed out that they hadn’t been invited this morning. When asked by Carole Saunders if she was a ‘councillor’, because Ximo Tur said he would not have councillors, Linda said that there will be 7 Deputy Mayors, including herself, and he will delegate. The town will be divided into areas and each Deputy Mayor will be responsible for an area. She reminded members that anyone now coming to live in Calpe must be a resident in order to get on the Padron, and provide a Resident’s Certificate, but if a non-resident is already on the Padron they will still be included. If you are here for more than 90 days a year then you need to be a resident.

Linda ended by saying that she will inform AFPO as soon as she has any further information.

7. Treasurer’s Report

There are 2,241€ in the bank so our finances have improved since last year.

At this point Pat Spencer and Missouri Tyrrell left to attend an Interpreters’ meeting.

8. Secretary’s Report

a. The provision of the Newsletter at the meeting rather then being sent out before had its benefits but a disadvantage was that it was no longer possible to use it to give the date of the next meeting. We do try and give as much information on the web site and in local newspapers, but the Costa Blanca News recently omitted to mention the date of today’s meeting which may have contributed to the poor attendance. Mention had been made of 3 February 2009 being suggested for the Annual General Meeting, but this has now been changed to 10 February. The theatre still needs to be booked so this date is not final, please keep a check on the web site and the newspapers. When Fred asked how many members looked on the web site as opposed to the newsletter, the number who looked online was  higher.

b. In Pat’s absence, Fred reported that we are still short of interpreters but there has been only one occasion when cover has not been provided.

Keith added that we have been unsuccessful in sorting out some of the problems associated with the running of the Health Centre, but was pleased to report that lists are yet again being provided on the doctors’ doors (with the patient’s telephone number and age being deleted).

9. Public Relations/Town Hall Matters

Nil (covered above).

10. Any Other Business

(a) Q. Years ago the Germans were represented in AFPO. Do they now have their own organisation?

A. They pulled out deliberately about 7/8 years ago in order to start their own organisation, but this has not happened. We have a small number of German members, but there is a language problem for them with meetings and the Newsletter.

(b) Q. With regard to people in wheelchairs, the high pavement kerb stones cause a lot of problems, and hopefully in the future Calpe will become more wheel chair friendly.

A. The President was in total agreement but sadly there is no money available for this work at the moment.

(c) A member from the Cucares urbanisation thanked Keith, Brian and Carole for all the help being given to their problem.

(d) Keith announced that the Costa Blanca Cat Trust will be holding a session to neuter and release feral cats, from 9-14 November. If anyone wants the contact details, please see him.

11. Date of Next Meeting (AGM)

Subject to availability of the Theatre in the Casa de Cultura, the next meeting will be on Tuesday 10 February, 9.45 am for 10.30 am.

As there was no other business the President closed the meeting at 12.05 pm.