The last Ordinary Assembly approves the new Olesa project, improves internal democracy and advances the strategic debate looking to 2025

Last Friday, June 17 at 17.30:XNUMX p.m. we held the Ordinary General Assembly (AGM) of Sostre Cívic. For the second year in a row, it was held in a hybrid format using a virtual platform and, in person, at the Center Cívic Ateneu Fort Pienc in Barcelona. This solution, which has proven to facilitate participation, has been an explicit request from our own social base, consolidating channels opened by the covid-19 pandemic. 

In total, there were about 100 people. A new participation success for an assembly that, beyond the usual points such as the approval of Annual Accounts and the presentation of the 2021 report, included several dynamics to advance the definition of the strategic plan, approve new projects and consolidate internal democracy. 

We prioritize the organization's work lines

The Assembly had a preview led by Social Tandem, strategic consulting cooperative that is accompanying us in the definition of our strategic plan for 2025. Jaume Oller (Tandem Social) shared the results of the first phases of the development of the strategic plan. These conclusions are the result of the participative process held during the past year which involved through different participative sessions, interviews and surveys more than 150 people, both from the different profiles of the social base and external agents (from the sector of 'cooperative housing, financial institutions and public administrations). 

After his presentation, an online vote was held among the participants of the Assembly, the results of which will serve as a reference for moving forward in the design of the strategic plan in the coming months.

Sustained growth and positive balance sheet

Just then the Assembly formally began, with the presentation of the Annual Accounts and which you can check out here. The closing of the year 2021 was with the positive result of €9000 (which will be allocated to the reserve fund of the cooperative). This last year our balance sheet grew by 12% compared to the previous year, which confirms a new year of sustained growth, a reflection of the parallel increase in projects. 

Our annual activity has also undergone significant changes, especially in relation to public subsidies, on which we depend less each year: in 2021 they represent 11%, compared to the 13% and 41% they represented, respectively, in 2020 and 2019 From the Governing Council and the Economic Board of Sostre Cívic they have set as medium-term objectives to strengthen the cooperative's own funds. For this very reason at the Extraordinary General Assembly last April 20 two mechanisms were approved that should help us achieve this: voluntary contributions to the social capital, and entry fees for new projects.

is born La Xicoira! We ratify the purchase and creation of the project in Olesa de Montserrat

The part of our assemblies where we approve and welcome new projects is always very exciting. On this occasion it was the turn of the new Olesa de Montserrat project, which the partners who are already part of its driving group have named La Xicoira. The project was born in mid-2020 when the possibility of buying a half-built building (result of the real estate crisis) and taking this heritage out of the hands of the vulture funds and bringing it to the social market was detected. Thanks to public funding from the Generalitat and a loan from the ICF, the property was finally purchased. The rehabilitation works are already underway with the aim of obtaining 25 homes and complementary collective spaces. 

The partners of the project addressed the Assembly thanking the approval of the project and the facilitation of the technical team. They also explained the meaning of the name: "chicoira" is a very common plant in the area and with multiple medicinal and healthy properties. They are scheduled to move in next fall. 

Other points approved at the Assembly

More organizational issues were also discussed in order to better prepare the cooperative to cover new projects and other aspects related to internal democracy. In this sense, the statutes of the entity in order to be able to set up renewable energy communities, as well as the supply of products or services linked to consumption and the use of housing that, in an integral way, the project partners may need. 

A new body was also constituted, the Resources Committee, with the functions of resolving possible conflicts in the face of agreements made by the social bodies, and the three members were chosen from among the candidates presented by the social base. Finally, a new member was elected Governing Council,Àngel Estévez, representing the working partners.