The plenary session ratifies Benidorm's adherence to a European pact for green cities, which reinforces its commitment to sustainability

Benidorm City Council approved this Monday the city's membership in the 'Green City Accord,' a European Commission initiative that brings together mayors and local authorities from across Europe around a shared vision of the urban future, according to which, "by 2030, cities will be even more attractive places to live, promoting the health and well-being of all those who live in them." The proposal was approved with majority support from the municipal council, receiving favourable votes from the PP and PSOE, and the sole dissenting vote from Vox. Thus, Mayor Toni Pérez will soon formalise Benidorm's adherence to this green pact, closely linked to the European Union's environmental objectives and recognition programs such as the 'Green Leaf', for which Benidorm is among the four finalist cities for 2027.

Mónica Gómez, Deputy Spokesperson for the Local Government and Councilor for the Environment, explained that joining this 'Green City Accord' will allow Benidorm to increase the visibility of municipal management at the European level, highlighting the environmental measures adopted and achievements of the city; contribute to the development of EU environmental policies and become part of a network of cities committed to the transition towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Europe; and increase the transparency, accountability, and credibility of the local government in the eyes of the public.

Landmarks will also allow users to access information on European Union funding opportunities, participate in activities that facilitate networking and access capacity-building opportunities, receive personalised guidance and support through a support service, and compare local progress with that of other European cities, to measure and share experiences and opportunities.

Mónica Gómez emphasized that this motion "reinforces Benidorm's commitment to sustainability" and that its implementation will entail the implementation of a series of measures aimed at improving air quality; advancing the quality of water bodies and the efficient use of water resources; achieving significant progress in the conservation and enhancement of urban biodiversity by increasing the surface and quality of green areas; moving toward a circular economy by ensuring a substantial improvement in municipal waste management, a significant reduction in its generation and disposal, and a considerable increase in reuse, repair, and recycling practices; and reducing noise pollution, approaching the levels recommended by the World Health Organization.

The councilor noted that the environmental policies implemented by the City Council over the last decade have earned the city numerous national and international awards, including the Smart Travel News Awards' Most Sustainable Destination in 2024; the 2024 Environmental Sustainability Award; the 2025 Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism Award; and the fact that Benidorm is currently among the four cities selected for the final phase of the European Green Leaf 2027 award, granted by the European Commission and which annually recognizes the work and results achieved by municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants in the face of "urban environmental challenges related to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss." "Benidorm is today a more sustainable city, more committed to the environment, and this motion is another step toward reaffirming our commitment to moving towards a greener, more efficient, more resilient, and more sustainable Benidorm in its environmental, economic, and social aspects," she argued.

The collaboration agreement between Consorci Mare, Benidorm City Council, and FCC Medio Ambiente for the management of textile waste and used vegetable oil was also unanimously approved. This agreement will allow for the installation of 35 clothing collection containers and ten containers for the collection of household oil by the end of September.

The agreement will allow for a one-year pilot test for the management of household oil and clothing with the aim of "obtaining actual usage data for these services to plan them more efficiently and in line with demand," explained the Councilor for the Environment, Mónica Gómez, who specified that the test "will not entail any cost for the City Council and, in return, we will receive a basic service that we currently do not have."

Gómez added that by joining this agreement, the City Council "contributes to more efficient and accessible management of special urban waste, in accordance with the principles of waste management hierarchy and the circular economy." In addition, Consorci Mare will conduct information and awareness campaigns through environmental educators during the facility's first week of operation. The councillor also emphasised that the pilot test will provide "reliable and varied data that will allow us to define the possible future provision of this service throughout the Consortium's territorial scope." In the specific case of Benidorm, obtaining this data on the collection of used clothing and household cooking oil will also "provide valuable information for the next Street Cleaning and Urban Solid Waste Collection contract, which includes the collection of all types of waste in the city," Gómez noted.

Likewise, the plenary session unanimously approved the 2025 edition of the "Benidorm City Tourism Awards" to the British tour operator Jet2 Holidays, the ONCE Social Group, the Valencian Business Association (AVE), and the Association of Bars, Restaurants, Cafeterias and Leisure (ABRECA), in the international, national, regional, and local categories, respectively. It was also agreed to award a special mention to the recently deceased local businessman Vicente Climent Llorca, owner of the legendary Benidorm Palace nightclub.

The proposal, presented to the plenary session by Mayor Toni Pérez on behalf of the board of spokespersons, was unanimously approved by all groups within the municipal council. "Benidorm City Tourism Awards" are granted by the City Council to recognise the role and contribution of companies, organisations, and individuals to the tourism industry, the city's main economic driver. These awards are presented in September, coinciding with the commemoration of International Tourism Day.

Mayor Toni Pérez publicly congratulated all of this year's award recipients, who were subsequently applauded by all members of the City Council.
The declaration of November 9 and 10, 2026, as local holidays for the celebration of the Festes Majors Patronals (Major Patronal Festival) was unanimously approved, as was the approval of a civil servant to work as a part-time professor at the University of Alicante. Also approved by all groups was the proposal by the Councillor for Citizen Security, Jesús Carrobles, to initiate the process of awarding distinctions and decorations to several Local Police officers.

Thus, the Blue Cross of Police Merit with a blue distinction is proposed for officers Manuel Risueño, Gaspar Lloret, David González, Javier Soriano, Antonio Gorreta, Laura Elías, and Antonio Arenas. Public congratulations are also proposed for their participation and involvement in the operation against drug trafficking and weapons possession in Benidorm's leisure areas over several days, which resulted in the arrest of eight people, the seizure of a large quantity of narcotics and prohibited weapons, and the precautionary closure of four nightclubs.

At the same session, the expiration of the procedure for terminating the urban development agreement signed between the developer of PAU 1 Murtal, the company Prometosa, and the City Council in June 2006 was approved. Today's approval means the filing of the proceedings arising from the aforementioned procedure.

City Councillor for Urban Planning and government spokesperson Lourdes Caselles cited "the company's non-compliance since the beginning of the agreement" and referred to the ruling of the Legal Advisory Council, which ruled in favour of the company and determined that it had submitted the required documentation, "although it did not do so through official channels." Caselles assured, however, that the procedure regarding the management of PAU 1 Murtal "will continue in accordance with the technical and legal reports already being issued. The sector will be resolved in accordance with the law." The councillor also wanted to clarify that under no circumstances has the status of development agent been transferred to a third-party company.

"This has not happened, nor has it been requested from the City Council, which is the entity that must approve it," she stated.

Finally, the political groups have been informed of the filing of an appeal for protection before the Constitutional Court against ruling 343 of May 23, 2024, by the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community regarding Serra Gelada.