Through the new "contracts for delegation of competencies" with the city's 24 parish councils, the Lisbon City Council ensures the execution of 368 local interventions, including several public space works.
They are known as "contracts for delegation of competencies" e allow City Councils to charge Parish Councils with certain neighbourhood worksby providing them with the financial resources to do so. They have existed since the 2013 local reform and are renewed from time to time. Last May, the Lisbon City Council and City Assembly approved the new contracts in this area. In the global value of 50 million eurosThe "public space projects" define not only public space works but also other interventions in the social field that will be the responsibility of the 24 city councils, by the end of 2025.
The new contracts establish the competencies and the respective allocation of financial resources within the scope of five programmatic axes:
- nearby territories: renovated public space, safe and shared mobility, expansion of the parking offer, especially for residents (€22.6 million);
- sustainable territories: creation of green spaces, improvement of energy and water efficiency; (7.8 million Euros);
- dynamic territories: creation and modernization of cultural spaces, stimulation of economic activity, proximity commerce and local entrepreneurship (7.5 million euros);
- solidarity territories: responses to situations of poverty, support for the rehabilitation of homes, combating school dropout and failure (6.2 million euros);
- healthy territories: health care for the most vulnerable, creation of sports equipment (5.9 million euros).
The sum of 50 million euros to be transferred to the 24 parishes corresponds to 368 interventions and have the following breakdown: in the year 2023, it is 10 million euros; in 2024, 25 million; and, in 2025, 15 million euros. In the following table, you can see some of the works to be carried out by the councils, and in the documents below you can consult the complete list of actions delgated to the most local authorities in the city.
| Parish | Works |
|---|---|
| Help | - pedestrian and road safety works in several locations; - requalification of the exterior and conviviality space in the 2 de Maio Neighborhood; - requalification of the mill at Rua das Chaminés Del-Rei and outdoor spaces; - planting trees in several locations; - creation of vegetable gardens in schools; - improvement of parking and accesses in the Ajuda Market. |
| Alcantara | - creation of a leisure area in the Rua da Cruz to Alcântara; - requalification of sidewalks and drainage in the Gil Vicente Street; - improvement of the children's playground Alvito; - sidewalk requalification at the access to Alvito Neighborhood. |
| Alvalade | - requalification of the Alvalade Square and the central separator of the Avenida de Roma; - road calming measures in several locations; - requalification of the public space of the Coruchéus; - requalification of green spaces in the São Miguel Neighborhood; - requalification of the playing fields at Teixeira de Pascoais Street. |
| Areeiro | - requalification of crosswalks in the Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques; - change of the passenger pick-up and drop-off zone in the Avenida Padre Manuel da Nobrega; - exterior arrangements in Bairro Portugal Novo; - construction of skate park. |
| Arroios | - requalification of the headers of the Arroios Market; - improving mobility and loading and unloading in the Arroios Street and in New Nations Square; - improving mobility in the Gomes Freire Street; - requalification of the Constantino Garden, from the António Feijó Garden and the Monte Agudo Viewpoint; - rehabilitation of the Arroios Market. |
| New Avenues | - reconversion of the sanitary facilities of the Campo Pequeno for a kiosk and from the playground to a paddle tennis court; - installation of a new playground at Avenida Marquês da Fronteira and in Armed Forces Avenue; - creation of new green spaces and a sports area in the Santos ao Rego Neighborhood. |
| Beato | - implementation of a stay area at Rua Fábrica de Tecidos Lisbonenses; - requalification of the Alfacinha Market (Picheleira); - renovation of the municipal bathhouse and washhouse at Gualdim Pais Street. |
| Bethlehem | - upgrading of Malacca, Diu and Daman squaresof the Caselasof the front walkway of the Church of Caselas, and of the Shrimp Mill; - lowering of crosswalks and speed reduction measures in several locations; - restoration of toilets in the Afonso de Albuquerque Square; - Placing bike racks and creating bike parks in several locations; - execution of refuge in the walkway of the Largo dos Jerónimos; - placement of sidewalks in the Italy Square; - creation of a playground, dog park, and garden in Torres do Restelo; - placing inclusive toys in existing playgrounds; - requalification of green spaces in the Avenida das Descobertas, from the Ducla Soares Garden and the Parque dos Moinhos de Santana; - requalification of the Pedrouços skate park. |
| Benfica | - recovery and requalification of the Historic Area of Calhariz de Benfica and the Benfica's Historic Area; - requalification of the Olive Tree Roundabout, from the Cura Mariano Square and the João Ortigão Ramos Street; - placing comfortable flooring on sidewalks at various locations; - requalification of the playgrounds in Lucília Simões Street and in Quinta da Granja; - recovery from Eucaliptal Urban Park; - recovery of the drainage structure and the floors of the Silva Porto Park; - creation of a water sustainability plan; - construction of a skate park in the Calhariz de Benfica. |
| Campo de Ourique | - requalification of the public space of Rua do Arco Carvalhão, from Afonso do Paço Square, from Maria Pia Street, from Rua Sol ao Rato and several streets of the orthogonal grid of the parish. |
| Campolide | - replacement of sidewalks with automobile parking in the old part of Campolide; - creation of an inclusive playground; - improvement of pedestrian accessibility (stairs, handrails, and anti-slip floors) in several locations; - creation of a dog park in Conde de Nova Goa Street; - requalification and active management of community gardens in the parish. |
| Carnide | - public space interventions in several locations; - creation of vertical gardens in the parish. |
| Star | - requalification of the back of the Ceuta South Neighborhood with parking and leisure area; - requalification of the Maria Pia Street; - Requalification of sidewalks and garden sidewalks, and creation of accessible walkways in several locations. |
| Lumiar | - requalification of playgrounds in the parish with a view to inclusion and adaptation needs for all children; - rehabilitation of the Lumiar Market with the construction of a community garden space and petanque and knitting courts; - placement of shade screens in several schools, and requalification of the exterior space of the EB Lumiar (Alto da Faia) and the Kindergarten of Telheiras. |
| Marvila | - road calming and pedestrian accessibility measures in the Luís Cristino da Silva Streetin the João Paulo VI Avenue e Avenue John Paul IIand in the Alberto José Pessoa Street; - repaving of pedestrian areas in the Rui Sousa Street e Tomás Alcaide Streetand in the Pedro de Azevedo Street e Manuel Caetano de Sousa Street; - requalification of the borracheira tree seat in the parking lot at Manuel Teixeira Gomes Street; - full pedestrian accessibility on the Domingos Parente Street and in Paulo Dias de Novais Street; - dog park and improvement of pedestrian accessibility in the access between the County and the Bela Vista; - outdoor gym at Rua Prof. Lopo de Carvalhoin the Luís Cristino da Silva Street and in Chalet Farm; - requalification of the multisports center Armador Neighborhood and the Dr. Estêvão Vasconcelos Streetand the Adães Bermudes Sports Field. |
| Mercy | - placement of comfortable rides in various locations; - recuperation of the waterfront pontoon near the Clube Naval and the Avenida Brasília; - Placing bike parking racks in several locations. |
| Olivais | - requalification of the public space in City of Cabinda Street and in Avenida Cidade de Luanda; - placing bollards, handrails, and street furniture in several locations; - second phase of the green corridor of the Alviela Channel; - requalification of impasses in the Rua Cidade Nova Lisboa; - requalification of green areas in several locations. |
| Park of Nations | - rehabilitation of the Expo'98 public space that has an author's project; - requalification of Garcia d'Orta Gardens, of the Alameda Central Gardens and the Cabeço das Rolas Garden; - planting large trees in several locations; - recovery of sidewalk sidewalks and elimination of unevennesses/pavements in several locations; - reformulation of the Casal dos Machados Playground and the Quinta das Laranjeirasand expansion of the Neptuno's Playground. |
| Penha de França | - second and third phases of the Afonso III Avenue; - requalification of the Santos O Novo Square, from the Mendonça e Costa Square and the Aniceto do Rosário Square; - laying of mixed sidewalks and lowering of crosswalks in several locations; - requalification of the children's playground General Roçadas Avenue; - road calming measures in the Morais Soares Street; - requalification of the Sappers Market; - placing gym equipment in several gardens. |
| Santa Clara | - road calming measures in the Hein Seink Streetin the São Bartolomeu Road and elsewhere; - requalification of playgrounds and playing fields in several locations; - requalification of the urban park in City of Tomar Street and the garden at Frederico Brito Street. |
| Santa Maria Maior | - installation of street furniture, creation of new crosswalks, and requalification of sidewalks in several locations; - requalification of the Verbena Field. |
| Saint Anthony | - requalification of a sidewalk, installation of a pergola and restoration of a kiosk in the Torel Garden; - requalification of the Oliveirinha Square; - creation of vertical gardens in the Joaquim António de Aguiar Street; - expansion of green space in the Ansaluz Square; - conclusion of the requalification of the Braancamp Street; - requalification of the Passadiço Playing Field. |
| São Domingos de Benfica | - laying of comfortable sidewalk on the sidewalk of the Benfica Road; - requalification of sidewalks in the Travessa de São Domingos de Benfica, Raquel Roque Gameiro Street and Inácio de Sousa Street; - requalification of green spaces in the Avenida Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, Largo Conde Bonfim, Rua Cândido de Figueiredo, Bairro das Furnas and Bairro de São João; - creation of a new garden and requalification of a slope in the Francisco Baía Street; - requalification of the São Domingos Market and replacement of the São João Market. |
| Saint Vincent | - requalification of the Travessa de Santo António à Graça; - requalification of the Largo de Santa Marinha. |
According to Law No. 75/2013Under the new law of the local authorities, the parish councils are already responsible for a series of competencies, such as the maintenance of green spaces, the cleaning of roads and public spaces, gutters and drains, and the maintenance and repair of street furniture installed in public spaces. But, the municipal councils can delegate other competencies to the parishes, namely "in all areas of their own interests, especially in the field of proximity services and activities and direct support to local communities". To do this, they need to enter into these contracts, which have to be approved both in a city council meeting and by the City Council. That's what happened again now.
Proposal no. 240/CM/2023, which details the new contracts, was approved by majority vote at the May 10 town hall meeting and in the plenary session of the Municipal Assembly on the 16th. "With the beginning of the current municipal mandate (2021-2025), an evaluation of the contracts for delegation of powers previously developed was carried out, as well as an analysis of their physical and financial execution, obtaining a global and integrated vision of the potential of decentralization of investment in the multiple areas of the city, in order to design a new investment program through inter-administrative contracts for delegation of powers.", can be read in the text of the approved proposal. "Through the listening process and in consultation with the parish councils, the scope and object was defined for a new cycle of delegating powers, corresponding to the implementation of investment actions divided into five programmatic axes, in line with the strategic objectives of the Municipality, for a closer, sustainable, dynamic, supportive and healthy city.
The 50 million cake will be divided among the 24 parishes in this way:
| Parish | Verba |
|---|---|
| Help | 1 800 000 € |
| Alcantara | 1 800 000 € |
| Alvalade | 3 048 218 € |
| Areeiro | 1 712 000 € |
| Arroios | 3 591 227 € |
| New Avenues | 2 917 482 € |
| Beato | 1 200 000 € |
| Bethlehem | 1 525 000 € |
| Benfica | 3 180 000 € |
| Campo de Ourique | 1 725 200 € |
| Campolide | 1 765 000 € |
| Carnide | 1 600 000 € |
| Star | 2 500 000 € |
| Lumiar | 3 576 643 € |
| Marvila | 2 546 000 € |
| Mercy | 1 000 000 € |
| Olivais | 2 076 733 € |
| Park of Nations | 2 362 077 € |
| Penha de França | 2 535 470 € |
| Santa Clara | 1 640 700 € |
| Santa Maria Maior | 1 150 000 € |
| Saint Anthony | 1 200 000 € |
| São Domingos de Benfica | 2 548 250 € |
| Saint Vincent | 1 000 000 € |
Before the municipal deputies, Diogo Moura, Alderman who has the relationship with the parish councils in his competence, explained that these contracts allow "align the municipality's strategic guidelines with the characteristics of each territory"where "the territories of the city are different and have needs, some cross-cutting, but others very different, with different weights as well". "So what we tried to find in that proposal together with the 24 parish councils in the city was to find that balance in the investment that you want to make in each community." For Diogo Moura, the parishes "respond more effectively to the needs of the population" e the new contracts are "a vote of confidence that the Lisbon City Hall makes in the parish councils".
The Councilman in charge explained that the contracts were built, first, with an analysis of the previous contracts and their execution, followed by the definition of the five programmatic axes; afterwards, the 24 councils presented the investment projects that they considered a priority for the territory, and the municipality made an analysis and selection, in consensus with the same councils, of the projects to be financed. Moura clarified that the definition of the funds to be distributed by the parishes was based on criteria such as population size, the execution rate of previous contracts, and the evaluation of new projects.
Regarding the monitoring of the execution of the new contracts, the Councilman committed himself present the "every six months" in the Municipal Assembly "a state of play of each project". Diogo Moura also advanced that the parishes will be able to count, besides a technical opinion from the City Hall to their execution projects, with the support of the municipal services of Mobility, Environment... in the planning of these interventions.
The previous contracts had been signed in April 2019 with a sum also in the amount of 50 million euros and a rburden sharing divided between the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, which was eventually extended to the end of 2022. These contracts were divided into seven programmatic axes: "Safe Neighborhood 100%", aimed at promoting the quality of life, public space and mobility; "Safe School 100%", focused on the safety of schools and accessibility to them; "Requalification of Equipment/Public Space", directed to the urban requalification and creation of new centralities in the neighborhoods, thinking about intergenerationality; "Open House", aimed at the elderly or disabled population; "Sports Equipment", thinking about the dynamization of a network of partners (schools, associations and sports agents) in a common vision for sports; "Social Rights", focused on fighting exclusion and the defense of social rights and citizenship; and "Special Projects", with interventions aimed at improving the quality of life and the environment, from an innovative and positive point of view.
