Mataró City Council has recently established a new committee to monitor its Neighbourhood Plan, while also securing top marks for transparency and announcing a range of cultural and social initiatives for 2026. These developments highlight the city's commitment to good governance, community engagement, and a full cultural calendar. The Committee for the Evaluation and Monitoring of the Neighbourhood Plan (Pla de Barris) has been constituted to oversee the project's development. This body comprises three municipal representatives, two individuals linked to the local social fabric, six members from the Generalitat de Catalunya, and one from the Diputació de Barcelona. For the seventh consecutive year, Mataró has achieved the maximum score in the Infoparticipa Seal, which evaluates transparency and the quality of information disseminated via municipal websites. The City Council's website obtained 100% on all indicators, a level of excellence reached by only 22 out of 947 councils in Catalonia. the 2025 budget closed with a surplus of €28.71 million, demonstrating the council's solvency and budgetary stability. ## Cultural Events and Festivals Expand Mataró's Libraries have unveiled their programme of activities for the second quarter of 2026, offering a wide array of options for all ages centred on reading, language, experimentation, and learning. These include reading clubs, talks, workshops, literary shows, and digital training sessions. The sixth edition of the Posidònia Fest is scheduled to take place from 2 to 6 September 2026. The festival is set to expand with more performances and new venues, aiming to bring music closer to the city through more accessible and immersive formats. Noted artists include Suu, Elèctrica Dharma, and Alba Careta. Additionally, the 50th anniversary of the Giant Book of Stories will mark the Sant Jordi celebrations in Mataró on 23 April, featuring popular culture events, book presentations, a book fair, and open doors at the City Hall. ## Social Support and Inclusive Policies The City Council is also prioritising social support, with applications for 2026 rental aid for individuals aged 36 to 64 opening on 14 April and closing on 30 April. Applications can be submitted preferably online. A separate call for those over 65 also remains open until 30 April, with the aim of facilitating access to and permanence in their homes, according to the Housing Agency of Catalonia. In a recent Plenary session, a resolution was approved to implement inclusive and transversal LGTBIQ+ policies across the city. The motion, developed by the Mataró LGTBIQA+ association and presented by the CUP municipal group, received support from the government (PSC and ECPM), ERC, and Junts, while VOX and PP rejected it. ## Environmental and Mobility Improvements Mataró is reinforcing its commitment to the environment and sustainable mobility. A resolution was approved to strengthen the fight against illegal waste dumping in the peri-urban, agricultural, and forest areas surrounding the city. This motion, presented by Junts per Mataró, passed with favourable votes from the government (PSC and ECPM), VOX, PP, and CUP, and abstentions from ERC. The city has also gained a new 3,100 m² green zone as part of the Maresme-Toló sector urbanisation, located near Avinguda del Maresme. This area features 420 shrub and perennial plants, a wooden fence perimeter, flowerbeds, a play area, and urban furniture. Its development proceeded after the drought period. To promote textile reuse and responsible consumption, Mataró is launching a Circular Market on Saturday 18 April at the Molins Civic Centre, which will include second-hand clothing sales, a textile customisation workshop, and a fashion show. In terms of transport, the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition has introduced a new electric bus to the C-10 line, which connects Mataró and Barcelona. This addition aims to strengthen sustainable mobility along one of the coast's busiest corridors. Looking ahead, Mataró continues to organise initiatives such as the HackGirl, a creative and training hackathon organised by the Maresme Libraries and TecnoCampus Mataró-Maresme on 18 April. The city also plans further infrastructure upgrades, including the renewal of the sewage network on Sant Joaquim street by Aigües de Mataró, as part of its Sewer Master Plan. These ongoing projects reflect Mataró's dedication to improving public services and quality of life for its residents.