Of Riccardo Agostini
PISTOIA – Spes’ 2023 budget results were announced in recent days. A budget closed with a profit of 55 thousand euros. At the same time, the assembly of the 20 municipalities of the province that are members unanimously renewed their confidence in the board of directors composed of president Riccardo Sensi, the architect Stefano Agostini and the surveyor Eva Morucci.
A positive economic result, even if some critical issues persist regarding the finding of resources to ensure the regular planning of interventions, as President Sensi explained during the press conference held at the Institute’s headquarters.
“We are satisfied – said Riccardo Sensi – to have managed to restore a balance sheet that in the past appeared to be truly burdensome. Now we can say with satisfaction that Spes has its accounts in order and there are positive prospects for carrying forward this action, despite the company risking bankruptcy. The new challenge is to renovate the huge building heritage that we find ourselves managing. A heritage that is significantly behind in maintenance. For this reason, national public funds are needed because with the proceeds from the concession we can only carry out ordinary maintenance and emergency interventions. That’s why we plan about 1 million a year, a large part of which goes to emergencies. To be able to carry out ordinary preventative maintenance, a national housing plan would be needed.”
“Politics has overlooked this problem for too long – continues Sensi – The fees applied to tenants – the current average of which is around 100 euros per month – are not sufficient. To ensure regular management of the interventions, a rental fee of around 300 euros should be applied. This difference, which we cannot pass on to tenants, must be made up for by public intervention, before difficult situations arise.”
“And speaking of rent cannons – continued Riccardo Sensi – I want to underline that we have significantly reduced arrears. We started with a share of around 20% of the entire amount, while today we are at 3%, which puts us in first place in Tuscany among the most virtuous companies in our sector”.
Satisfaction also on the part of the Pistoia Municipality. “We are satisfied and proud – explained the budget councilor, Margherita Semplici – of this board of directors and its president, chosen amidst some doubts expressed by some member municipalities, but who has found unanimity over time which confirms the goodness of the choice. It wasn’t a given to be able to find someone who could revive a situation that was very critical in 2021.”
Finally, Spes illustrated the next interventions already planned which will concern the Fornaci (Pistoia), Via Belvedere (Massa and Cozzile), Via Ammannati (Pescia) and Via San Lorenzo (Quarrata).
