A description of life in the village of Pruna, nestled in the Andalusian mountains of Seville

This year we have already had a few lovely new people arrive, and now two Americans are buying. Pruna is becoming more and more cosmopolitan.

So we now have Americans, Germans, Dutch, Chilean, Russian, Belgian, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish happily mingling with the Andalusian natives.

The other day I sat over a coffee in the square with a couple of friends and we counted the number of full time ex pats in Pruna, and it came to 32, meaning that about one and a half percent of the full time residents are ex pats. There are about an equal number of part time residents. Pruna is not swamped by Brits. And there are all kinds of people living here in that group of thirty plus, from bingo, to gringo, to 'gone native', there will be someone to talk to who you will really get along with.

And the spanish villagers really do make you welcome, and if you make the effort to learn the kids names, and to bring a couple of small goodies from home back with you to give a gifts you will be treated like a long lost cousin.

I made a decision early on not to become part of the ex pat community, I sit alone in cafes, or with my husband, I smilingly decline the invites to sit at the large tables of brits, this has been interpreted as outright rudeness by the sort of person I would not want to sit with anyway, so a win-win situation. Make friends slowly with your fellow contrymen is the best advice i can give you with regards to any foreign home, your friends will define the life you want to lead, so choose wisely,

The Ayuntamiento (council) in Pruna

In 2011 Pruna got a new Mayor and elected council,  all from the political party the PA, The  PARTIDO ANDALUCISTAS

Their main aim is the self-determination of Andalusia and the recognition of Andalusia as a nation within the Europe of the peoples. In local politics it is extremely active, and tries to improve the lot of residents in their elected towns and cities. 

In Pruna they have massively improved the physical appearance of the village, new pavements, tree planting, underground bins, and a general sprucing up of the village. They have started free exercise classes every morning at the sports pavilion. Sponsored many more cultural events, particularly Flamenco dance and music, and worked very hard to improve employment opportunities fro the residents.

The council; finds employement for the villagers, good employment, and also employs the local unemployed, at union rates, for projects in the village. (There are very few benefits in Spain). It operates the Food Bank, which gives an amount of food which appears to be massive to our eyes in comparison to UK food banks (in the UK it is usual for it to be five items every two weeks). The food for the food bank is apparently provided by the Lotto, but administered, stored, and distributed by the council.

They also provide school materials for the poorer families, and subsidised music lessons. In February 2017 they even held electricity advice days when people could bring their bills in to check they were on the right tariff, getting the best deal, and how to save on usage. 

All of the sewage system has been replaced, and a new water supply installed throughout the vilage, this meant digging up all the roads and replacing them, so there was the added bonus of new roads and pavements, smartening up the village immeasurably.

New parks have been built, increasing the outside space and pleasant outside seating areas. The swimming pool, which is gorgeous, is also getting a facelift. The sporting facilities have been upgraded to an impressive level. All in all they have managed the villages resources and public amenities very well.

Elected by proportional representation, every party has a list of names and depending on their share of the vote they get members taken from the list in the order on the list, to be elected representatives. 

The Mayor is Francisco Lopex Sanchez, the deputy Mayor is Salvador Jesus Medina Garcia, the councillors are Josefina Herrera Rojo, and Gloria Borrego Lopez.

If you need to speak to the council just pop in and have a chat, dictionary or google translate in hand. They are very nice and helpful, but speak very little English (and why should they?).  Pruna has no British councillor, or council employee.  And if you need more specialised help with any matter to do with the council, the council has arranged with the Director of Education, Juan Jose Pavon Garcia, to give free assistance and translation! You can call into see Juan in the big white and yellow silo building near the schools. The council does everything it can to help us ex pats live happy informed lives.

There is a facebook page: Ayto Pruna, (there was a facebook page Ayuntamiento Pruna, but that got hacked in May 2016, and is no longer able to be accessed, so check you have the right group).

It has become far more organised, ensuring that permits are issued for work to be done, planning permission and building regulations are now more rigerously enforced. All the good of the village, but after the years of laissex-faire they can feel a bit irritating. The fees for the permission all help the village coffers, and it does mean that building standards are more strictly adhered to.

Does the council reflect the village? Or the village the council? All I know is that Pruna has an effective and fair council that has improved the lives of all residents.