The mayor of Uvernet-Fours believes that the amount paid to his municipality by the intercommunity is not large enough in the context of the transfer of competence.
“Normally, we should have recovered the sums of money that we have donated so far, i.e. 650,000 euros. Unfortunately, on November 12, there was an error of interpretation which created a flagrant injustice for the municipality , because we only recover 466,000 euros. This puts the municipality of Uvernet-Fours in a complicated position.” Patrick Bouvet seemed preoccupied this Tuesday, November 26 evening on the set of BFM DICI.
The mayor of Uvernet-Fours (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), where the Pra Loup station is located, feels wronged since the last community council on November 12 and the outcome of a deliberation that he hadn't imagined. That relating to the payment of money from the intermunicipality to its municipality as part of the transfer of “tourism” competence.
“A fairly long process”
In March 2023, the municipal council of Uvernet-Fours voted for a deliberation on the resumption of tourism promotion competence. This competence was, until now, held by an intercommunal structure, that of Ubaye-Tourisme. On September 4 of the same year, it was official and the town created its own tourist office.
Since then, Uvernet-Fours has been trying to recover the money injected into Ubaye-Tourisme to officially launch its events and promotion policy.
“It’s a fairly long process. We have set up a Commission for the Evaluation of Transferred Charges (CLECT). It must assess the amount that the community of municipalities must pay to Uvernet-Fours,” explains Elisabeth Jacques, the president. of intercommunity.
And to continue: “There is a method of calculation, legal and enshrined in the texts and there is a free method where the community of municipalities can freely decide on the amount paid with an amount greater than the legal basis”.
Free revision rejected
The legal basis is calculated based on what Ubaye-Tourisme invested in Pra Loup, compared to what the resort brought in via tourist tax. A deliberation was presented and voted on in the community council and the payment of 466,000 euros was granted. Believing that the account is not there, Patrick Bouvet therefore requested a free revision to obtain a higher amount. But the deliberation was rejected by elected officials.
For what? Because some would undoubtedly like to have their say, if a payment of 650,000 euros were to be made to the municipality of Uvernet-Fours.
“In a municipal OT, the community elected officials are not around the table to decide. So we would pay more than 600,000 euros without knowing what it is for?” asks an elected official from the intercommunality. “We participate in 45% of Pra Loup's investments. We pay for financial imbalances, if there is a bad season, up to 49%. And there, we would pay 100% of the OT budget without having a place around from the table. This can raise eyebrows among community officials,” she concludes.
Who will have Pra Loup's “Tourism” skill?
So, the cloth is burning? Certainly not for President Elisabeth Jacques who thinks that an outcome favorable to all is possible.
“Uvernet-Fours could return this competence to the intercommunality. Then, we could create an intercommunal public establishment of an industrial and commercial nature (EPIC) with territorialized competence. Thus, Pra Loup would have real freedom of action. The elected representatives of the “intercommunity would participate in the budget and everyone would be a winner. The start of this project can only come from a deliberation of the municipal council”, concludes the president of the Community of Communes Ubaye-Serre-Ponçon.
The ball therefore seems to be in Uvernet-Fours’ court. This Thursday, November 28 morning, Patrick Bouvet did not wish to dwell on the subject. “I would like a new vote so that fairness is found. If it is not found, we will see with the administrative court to find justice because it is a total injustice. The decision to recover the “Tourism” competence has been taken , carefully considered and effective, I regret that some people did not understand”, concludes the mayor of Uvernet-Fours.
