The Barcelona Provincial Council's governing board has approved €40 million for its Local Autonomy Programme, a fifth annual funding round intended to help municipal councils maintain essential public services. For residents, the funding gives their local council discretion to respond to local needs and sustain services without having to apply for a fixed list of individual projects.

The measure was reported on Wednesday 23 September by Línia Xarxa. The programme has allocated €205 million since it began, according to the outlet.

“These resources are made available to local governments to guarantee social cohesion and territorial equity,” said Lluïsa Moret, president of Barcelona Provincial Council.

Three council support measures approved

The Local Autonomy Programme is one of three support instruments backed at the Provincial Council's latest plenary session. The council said the programme is designed to support continuous, good-quality public services and energy resilience, while allowing municipalities to decide how the money is used.

  • €40 million for the Local Autonomy Programme, which supports essential municipal services.
  • €172 million initially for the 2027 Service Catalogue, a package of 323 forms of financial and technical support available to municipalities. The budget may be adjusted during 2027 in response to councils' needs.
  • €10 million for a fund to renew municipal public lighting, with the stated aim of making it more sustainable and energy-efficient.

2027 service support brought forward to September

The Service Catalogue for 2027 was approved in September for the first time, rather than later in the year. Moret said the earlier timetable is intended to allow local councils to access the available services sooner.

Municipalities will use the Service Catalogue's 323 resources during 2027, while the €40 million Local Autonomy Programme is intended to help councils continue providing services tailored to their residents' needs.

Reported by liniaxarxa.cat, Línia Xarxa.