Budget, security, works in the historic centre of Agde… an update from Mayor Sébastien Frey

An underground car park will be built on the site of a former basalt quarry. MIDI LIBRE – ARCHIVE MICHEL DESNOS

As a preamble to the last municipal council, the mayor of Agde provided several important pieces of information.

Here is a recent initiative that sometimes helps to cut short the digital rumours that leak here and there: at each municipal council meeting, Mayor Sébastien Frey now takes a few minutes to give the assembly information on the management of the City, which we have summarized.

Uncertainties about the City's budget

Due to government uncertainties, we still do not know whether the solidarity effort requested by the State from local authorities (regions, departments, municipalities) for nearly 5 billion euros will be effective or not in 2025. In Agde, if next year's budget has not yet been voted, we are nevertheless preparing to face a “deduction of 2.8 million euros”, announced Sébastien Frey. Fortunately, Agde is a rather wealthy city (nearly 110 million annual budget) “and it will be possible to plan for this expenditure while maintaining the pace of planned investments”, assures the mayor. Especially since the latter announces “a 2024 budget result that will be the best ever obtained by our community”, which will be presented at the next municipal council meeting in February.

The falling crime figures

The latest Intercommunal Council for Security and Crime Prevention (CISPD), held at the Palais des Congrès last week, in the presence of the Béziers public prosecutor Raphaël Balland and the sub-prefect Jacques Lucbereilh, confirmed the downward trend in several public security indicators, figures which come from the Ministry of the Interior: “for the first three quarters of 2024, there was a 22.40% drop in intentional assault and battery compared to 2023, – 6.70% for thefts, – 18.46% for home burglaries, – 17.83% for vehicle thefts”, announced the mayor at the city council. Omitting to add that, like everywhere else in France, Agde was not immune to a significant increase in violence against women, particularly within the family. According to our information, thefts from shops have also increased.

City centre: the work schedule presented

“I am convinced that we will succeed in the revitalisation of our city centre.” We will see if Sébastien Frey is telling the truth, but in any case, many things are currently being implemented in the historic centre. The second phase of work on the Promenade, with the construction of the underground car park, will start “in January.” As for the installation of the new shops on the Promenade, this time on the upper floor, it is planned for April and May 2025. “Nineteen new shopkeepers will set up shop” the mayor is pleased, the services of the Blue Invest agency having received 26 applications.

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