The Sestao City Council has reached an agreement with ISS Facility, a company that has been carrying out cleaning tasks in various municipal buildings, including the residence, sports facilities, and public schools, without a formal contract since 2019. This situation has led the Council to pay the company just over one million euros, after the latter filed a legal claim.
The issue was brought to light by EH Bildu, the main opposition group in the Left Bank City Council, and published by the newspaper Gara. The problem originated from the continuation of an “essential” service in the town, which the Council tried to maintain after the expiration of two contracts that ended in 2019 and 2020. Subsequently, according to the government team (PNV-PSE), “the company filed a claim for damages due to forced extension,” leading to the judicialization of the matter.
The initial claim amounted to 1.3 million euros, plus interest and potential subsequent damages. After repeatedly requesting payment, the company resorted to legal action. The local administration requested all relevant documentation from the company and hired external consultants to analyze the case. Given the existing legal and economic risk, the City Council negotiated an out-of-court settlement with ISS Facility, which “reduces the claimed amount by approximately 20% and sets the payment at 1,045,640 euros”.
“"It is a very serious problem that I found when I took over the area. It has arisen from the previous management."
Rosa del Palacio (PSE), the councillor responsible for Public Services, admitted in the last ordinary plenary session that it is a “very serious problem” that she encountered upon taking office, suggesting it stemmed from the previous management of her government partners, the PNV. She also stated that the former mayor, the jeltzale Ainhoa Basabe, was aware of the situation, and that the then-secretary opted not to negotiate with the company, which ultimately led to the judicialization of the matter.
The municipal government defends its actions by stating that they have “tried to resolve the problem under the best possible conditions for municipal interests, avoiding a potentially more burdensome judgment.” The opposition did not support the credit modification planned for this purpose, which was approved with the votes of PNV and PSE. EH Bildu abstained, demanding accountability and pointing to Mayor Gorka Álvarez, who previously served as the jeltzale spokesperson. Elkarrekin, who voted against, hinted that they would take action, calling it a “very serious issue.”
The government team acknowledges that a new plenary session may be necessary to correct the approved credit modification, as it was done incorrectly, “both in terms of the economic amount and the designation given to that money, and it must be corrected.”
