Barcelona City Council

November-2023

As a result of the receipt of a report of irregularities in the processing by Barcelona City Council of a special comprehensive and urban improvement plan, definitively approved in September 2020, which could be compatible with a possible favorable treatment to the promoting company connected with a situation of conflict of interest, the adequacy of the legality of the aforementioned processing has been examined. As a result of this examination, it has been concluded, first of all, that the aspects of the report relating to the processing of planning and compliance with certain urban planning parameters, although they have been analyzed to be linked to a matter corresponding to the objective area of ​​the Office, are being elucidated in their judicial reason, which is why there is no corresponding pronouncement on the part of this Office. And, secondly, with regard to the eventual conflict of interest, no indications of undue interference in the procedure have been identified, although the existence of an apparent conflict of interest between municipal officials and the developer, which would not have been detected or managed by Barcelona City Council. For this reason, it has been recommended to the City Council, on the one hand, the more exhaustive motivation of the reasoning and decisions in urban planning matters and, on the other hand, that it review the effectiveness of the mechanisms for the detection of possible conflicts of interest of their positions and other personnel in the service so that they can be properly managed.