IN AN effort to decentralise the council’s administrative services, Loulé Câmara has just opened the Loja do Munícipe – Delegação de Almancil, a council service desk in Almancil. The new facility is located at the Junta de Freguesia office, saving the people of Almancil a journey to the Câmara headquarters in Loulé to deal with matters such as paying water bills and so on.
Open to the public from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm, the service desk will be staffed by four operatives from Loulé Câmara, who will provide Almancil residents with the necessary assistance. As well as dealing with water bills, the Loja do Munícipe will also cover taxes and licences, therefore, street vendors for example can obtain their licences more easily. In addition, it will also be possible to deal with some business related issues such as licences for publicity posters and permission for the occupation of public land or roads, machinery and taxi licences.
The President of Loulé Câmara, Seruca Emídio, commented: “This is a very big step forward for the borough and it’s only the beginning. Soon, the services available will increase, namely to make it possible to consult projects and deliver the paperwork for private construction works.”
Despite this being an aspiration for a long time, due to the complex issues involved in installing the service desk, it has only been possible to go ahead with the investment now. “All this had enormous implications, staff needed to be hired, appropriate conditions created and the organisation of information technology. An antenna had to be installed in order for there to be communication with Loulé Câmara, as well as the important logistical part that needed to be resolved,” explained Seruca Emídio.
