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What it is

More powers for mayors and councils in Spanish municipalities

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 30 July 1998. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Government bill amending Law 7/1985, of April 2, regulating the Basic Local Government Regime and other measures for the development of Local Government, in matters of traffic, motor vehicle circulation, and road safety, and in matters of water.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000130· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. Powers are redistributed between the Mayor and the municipal council (Pleno The governing body of a Spanish municipality or provincial council, made up of all its elected members, which takes the most important decisions.): the Mayor takes on executive tasks such as awarding small contracts, issuing licenses and leading the local police, while the council keeps oversight duties and the biggest decisions.
  2. The council must meet more often to oversee the municipal government: monthly in towns with over 20,000 residents, every two months between 5,001 and 20,000, and every three months in towns of up to 5,000. Regular meetings must also include a distinct part devoted to oversight.
  3. Citizen remedies and procedures are improved: the optional reconsideration appeal against local government decisions is restored, local ordinances are approved faster if no claims are filed, and it is now set who resolves boundary disputes between municipalities in different Autonomous Communities.
  4. Municipalities can remove and destroy abandoned vehicles as waste. A vehicle is presumed abandoned if it has spent more than two months in the impound after removal, or if it has been parked in the same spot for over a month, cannot move on its own or is missing its license plates.
  5. Local governments gain a voice in water matters: they take part in the National Water Council, and provinces are represented in the governing bodies of the River Basin Authorities according to the share of their territory covered by the basin.
  6. A cap is set on fines for breaking municipal ordinances, depending on the size of the municipality: up to 300,000 pesetas in towns with over 250,000 residents, down to 25,000 pesetas in the rest.

Who it affects

  • Mayors and provincial council presidents: Get more executive powers, such as contracting, issuing licenses and managing staff.
  • Municipal and provincial councils (Plenos): Focus on oversight and major decisions, and must meet more often.
  • Municipalities, especially large cities: Can remove and destroy abandoned cars on public roads.
  • Citizens dealing with their local council: Have an optional appeal before going to court, plus clearer deadlines.
  • Provinces and local entities: Gain representation in water bodies such as the National Water Council and the River Basin Authorities.

Words worth knowing

Pleno
The governing body of a Spanish municipality or provincial council, made up of all its elected members, which takes the most important decisions.
Recurso de reposición potestativo
An optional request asking the local council itself to review and overturn one of its decisions before going to court.
Ordenanza municipal
A local rule approved by a municipality to regulate matters in its area, such as noise or cleanliness.
Confederación Hidrográfica
River Basin Authority: the body that manages the water of a basin, meaning all the rivers in the same area.
Entes locales
Local entities: the administrations closest to citizens, such as municipalities and provinces.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced30 July 1998Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted31 July 1998The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments31 August 1998Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee7 October 1998A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenary9 December 1998All 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate17 December 1998The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE25 March 1999It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 11 official steps on a timeline
Jul 1998Aug 1998Sept 1998Oct 1998Nov 1998Dec 1998Jan 1999Feb 199911. 30 July 1998: Presentación22. 31 July 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Publicación desde 31/07/1998 hasta 31/08/199833. 31 July 1998: Calificación44. 31 August 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Enmiendas desde 31/08/1998 hasta 07/10/199855. 7 October 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Mesa - Calificación desde 07/10/1998 hasta 07/10/199866. 7 October 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Debate de totalidad desde 07/10/1998 hasta 26/11/199877. 26 November 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Dictamen desde 26/11/1998 hasta 09/12/199888. 26 November 1998: Comisión de Régimen de las Administraciones Públicas Informe desde 26/11/1998 hasta 26/11/199899. 9 December 1998: Pleno Aprobación desde 09/12/1998 hasta 17/12/19981010. 17 December 1998: Senado desde 17/12/1998 hasta 25/03/19991111. 25 March 1999: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 25/03/1999 hasta 11/05/1999

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Act 11/1999, of April 21, amending Act 7/1985, of April 2, on the Basic Regime of Local Government, and other measures for the development of Local Government, in matters of traffic, motor vehicle circulation and road safety and in matters of water.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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