France/Saint-Sylvain. The commune to join the Val-ès-Dunes inter-communal grouping

The commune will leave the Cingal-Suisse Normande Interco to join that of Val-ès-Dunes on January 1. The departmental intercommunal commission has given its approval.

Why? Why?

Why has the commune decided to leave the Cingal-Suisse Normande communauté de communes (CDC) to join the Val-ès-Dunes one?

Régis Croteau, mayor of Val-ès-Dunes, explains: "It's in response to a need for territorial coherence and a desire to bring proximity back into decision-making. The CDC Cingal-Suisse Normande does not correspond to Saint-Sylvain's catchment area. "We're completely off-center, 25 km from Thury-Harcourt, its headquarters, where the main services are located. Our residents never go there.

How did the negotiations with the Val-ès-Dunes CDC go?

First we had to convince the community delegates of Val-ès-Dunes (18 communes with a population of around 19,000). A first attempt, two and a half years ago, was unsuccessful. Saint-Sylvain's application was rejected. " We probably got it wrong," admits Régis Croteau. Negotiations resumed, culminating in a clear majority vote by Val-ès-Dunes on November 30, 2023, confirmed by a qualified majority of the member communes. " Since then, we've been in regular contact and are already involved in the important issues facing our new territory", explains Régis Croteau, who will host the first Val-ès-Dunes community council of 2025 in January.

Does the CDC Cingal-Suisse Normande have to agree to let Saint-Sylvain go?

No. But it has negotiated its departure. We've had constructive discussions with Jacky Lehugeur, its president," emphasizes Régis Croteau. There is no disagreement about taking over the loan and management of the Pierre-Boulé gymnasium, nor about taking over responsibility for the school, its staff, canteen, day-care center and leisure center," confirms Jacky Lehugeur.

What are the budgetary consequences for the commune of Saint-Sylvain?

Taking over the management of the school and gymnasium will not put a strain on the commune's budget. "The law provides for a financial compensation mechanism. We won't have to raise taxes," explains Régis Croteau. In addition, this integration will entail the transfer of responsibility for collective sanitation, and therefore the wastewater treatment plant, to Val-ès-Dunes. Finally, household waste collection will no longer be handled by Smictom de La Bruyère, but by Otri.

Source: caen.maville.com/