Andorra la Vella Revives Parish Service Pooling Proposals

Andorra la Vella is revisiting proposals to pool municipal services across parishes as a way to streamline resources more effectively. Priority areas include traffic agents, communal maintenance, and cleaning operations, building on the success of the existing shared waste collection system.

Maria del Mar Coma, Ordino's senior councillor, emphasised the potential for broader collaboration. "Many more services should be pooled," she said, pointing to traffic management as a key focus. Mobility challenges affect every parish, and sharing traffic agents would help address peak demands, such as large public events. The proposed model would remain flexible, tailored to each area's specific needs.

While there is broad agreement on the benefits, implementation faces hurdles. Reorganising staff and securing funding pose significant challenges, particularly since parishes have varying revenue levels and cannot all afford equal contributions. Options under discussion, as reported by Andorra Televisió, involve funding formulas tied to each parish's income or actual service usage.

The initiative remains in early stages but is gaining momentum, according to local officials. The waste collection partnership has provided a blueprint, demonstrating how shared services can work nationwide.