The Zona Nord civic centre, in the Ciutat Meridiana neighbourhood, set the scene for Saturday’s debate on drafting an integrated plan to combat inequality in the Nou Barris district. Over a hundred people, organised into groups to tackle four themes (social support, housing, employment and education and childhood), worked together with the aim of redressing the current situation. The meeting gave rise to proposals such as establishing a guaranteed minimum wage, revamping the current social services model and setting up a programme to combat unemployment among young people.

The session was a joint initiative by the Nou Barris district office and the organisations forming part of the “Nou Barris cabrejada”, [Nou Barris has had enough] campaign, consisting of over 100 entities and groups in the district. The aim is to analyse the needs and problems of the various neighbourhoods in the area and ponder the design of proposals and future action.

On behalf of the municipal government, the Councillor for Nou Barris, Janet Sanz, noted: “It’s the residents themselves who must also decide the proposals and action which will allow us to turn things around”. Similarly, the Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Laia Ortiz, explained: “It’s a chance to improve and work together, on what strategic policy should be for the next four years, in terms of reducing poverty and guaranteeing social rights”.

Other suggestions

For her part, the representative for “Nou Barris cabrejada”, Aurora Álvarez, Yoyi, explained some of the conclusions which have achieved greatest consensus such as: integrated support for families, a census of empty flats to be given over to social rent and the management of public facilities by residents.

The conclusions from the meeting will serve as the basis for the draft plan to combat poverty, which will be presented at an extraordinary full council session on the issue during the second quarter of the year before being included in the Municipal Action Plan.