MADRID RESIDENTS - BAR & RESTAURANT “INSPECTORS”

Madrid City Council grants neighbourhood associations access to new licence applications 

Office opened yesterday and complaints can now be filed if irregularities are detected

Down-town district residents from this week can act as regular inspectors of bars and restaurants

Madrid City Council has created a kind of one-stop shop for neighbourhood associations representing residents of the capital with the highest density of catering establishments to check whether the licenses in force local match what they actually do. Enquiries on record are public according to conditions of confidentiality required by the legislation on data protection.

Previously, anyone could be privately informed of matters affecting them individually, such as an air vent from a kitchen located on the ground floor in the same building. The difference now is inspection work has been extended to neighbourhood organizations, which can access all business licenses established in their neighbourhoods and also with pre-established usual appointment beforehand. The new help-desk will be open every Wednesday from 9.00 am [started yesterday]. Those responsible for eight associations of Centre (Las Cavas, Ópera, Chueca, Las Letras, Acibu, La Corrala, Justicia and Cascorro) will alternate weekly to request information from restaurants and bars located in their relative areas and, where appropriate, communicate detected irregularities.

In the event any activity is carried out without complying with urban or environmental regulations, representatives of the residents may submit the corresponding complaint at the help desk, providing the necessary data for a follow up.

The Council will take action against those who breach regulations, undermine coexistence and urban environment.

MOST FREQUENT IRREGULARITIES...

Madrid city centre neighbourhood associations estimate 3,000 hospitality venues are registered in the district.  "More than half carry out an unauthorised activity or breach license conditions." Among the most frequent irregularities they find:

• Unlicensed businesses operating as bars
• Venues playing music without permission
• Extending closing times
• Installing terraces without permission

Esteban Benito, spokesperson for the umbrella organisation of the neighbourhood groups said "We’re not asking for privileged access to confidential information. Previously AGLA [renamed Agency Activities] wouldn't cooperate with public access to records, extending deadlines. They’re normalising the process."

Following the granting of licenses, Council technicians for Sustainable Urban Development conducted inspections at the premises to determine whether the administrative authorisation fits the permit issued. Unless a citizen complaint is processed, no verification visits are made after.

Regarding terraces, competition control corresponds to the district boards to be a temporary occupation of public roads. In the Centre, Councilman Jorge Garcia put Brown last September a special campaign monitoring to detect the watchmen in irregular.

Reactions of the situation from the sector

En Association for Leisure and Tourism Madrid consider streamlining processes consultation licensing of establishments "it is good news," but asked to be extended to entrepreneurs and SMEs who need to know the "urban history" of a local before formalising a transfer. "It is important to be agile, accessible and transparent for everyone," says his spokesman, Vicente Pizcueta. A private capacity, and in exchange for anonymity, several independent entrepreneurs show their "perplexity" and "concern" for the opening of a procedure in the city of the capital called "local shift". According indicate appreciate certain "inquisitor spirit" by the Government of Now Madrid, denounced "the existence of citizens of first and second category" and warn that if this audit were applied to communities of owners' only that they had to regulate air conditioners Administration would collapse. "