Now we’re getting serious
No more alibis, no more excuses, the government is there and it is the most authoritative we could have imagined; it is equally clear that the sustainable transformation of the Country’s infrastructure, starting with energy efficiency and regeneration and the digital transformation of our territorial systems, are at the heart of the government’s program and the PNRR.
All fantastic ….. yet we must be well aware that it remains crucial to give great support to our territorial systems and our local governments; the risk is not the lack of will or commitment of officials, technicians and administrators but the shortage of personnel, the lack of the necessary technological tools and also a weak system of updating and training of resources.
An example? The Ecobonus in all its forms: in my opinion, one of the best measures of recent years potentially capable of giving a big boost to the green upgrading of our buildings, a boost effect to the building and plant supply chain, an opportunity to create territorial circular economy, a significant increase in the asset value of our housing system and a real incentive for our families.
Yet ………..
Yet the system is in danger of jamming on a procedural knot downstream of the process: the difficulty and slowness of municipal technical offices to issue the appropriate authorizations to construction sites. This is certainly not due to indolence, but these offices (especially in small Municipalities) are understaffed (think many Municipalities have part-time technicians once a week), lack integrated platforms and systems, and may not have been properly informed about the procedures to be applied.
So one of the last acts of the previous government through MISE was this:
The Budget Law for the year 2021 established at the Ministry of Economic Development a fund, with an endowment of 10 million euros, for the purpose of strengthening the offices of Municipalities that deal with the management of services related to the disbursement of the 110% Superbonus, with the hiring of technical staff on a temporary basis and for the current year.
Just one consideration: if about half of the PNRR and European Programming Funds are to be transferred in various forms into projects and services to be grounded in the territories, are we sure that our Local Authorities can withstand the shock?
There is still time to stimulate, support and propose tools and solutions for our Local Governments, so let’s compare, create working groups …….
Now it’s time to get serious!
Beppe Lombardini
