Le Figaro Lyon
The mayor had announced it: the communications budget of the city of Villeurbanne exploded in 2022. And for good reason the municipality of 158,000 inhabitants, the 2nd most populous in the Rhône after Lyon, hosted numerous events under the “capital” label. of culture” which was awarded to him that year.
The result is 700,000 spectators, a first controversy over the cost of the organization, but also significant expenses incurred by the city in terms of communication for an amount of one million euros.
Expenditures made at the request of the Ministry of Culture, assures the mayor, Cédric Van Styvendael (PS), elected in 2020.
“It was an exceptional year with 700 shows
,” he explains to Le
Figaro
.
I am not hiding behind the Ministers of Culture, but there were political demands to promote the label.
In the application file, we offered 700,000 euros and the jury told us that it was not enough.
The Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC), which underlines in a report the sharp increase in the communication budget of the municipality, points in particular to an exclusive partnership with France 3 regions, which provided for “
reciprocal commitments between the municipality and France Télévisions which have been valued monetarily
.
Commitments which included
“editorial support and promotional support on the France Télévisions institutional site, the specific economic value of which is not specified but the possible confusion of which leads the chamber to question a possible violation of the charter of Munich of journalists
.
France 3 assured that this partnership
“had the objective of “raising awareness” among journalists, without constraint or guarantee of reporting”.
Current spending on a contained increase
But Villeurbanne's communication expenses have also increased in current affairs, notes the CRC, whose audit runs from 2018 to 2022, i.e. partly before the election of the new mayor.
The latter assumes an increase in communications expenditure, up to
“all operating expenses of the municipality, i.e. 1.9%”
, recognizes the Regional Chamber of Accounts.
“Yes, there is an evolution in the communication budget because we have made strong choices in terms of investment and operation and we must communicate them to the citizen
,” reacts Cédric Van Styvendael.
This does not serve the mayor personally but from campaigns on bedbugs to developments in our health policy.
We also need to support major urban projects in the metropolis or Sytral, which translates into additional pages in the municipal magazine.
The latter increased from 73,000 to 84,000 copies distributed over the period, but it was already at 80,000 in 2020, underlines the mayor.
A development that is also consistent with the demographic dynamism of the city.
Upon arrival at the helm, the new mayor initiated an audit with an external service provider on developments in the communication policy, which until then had been mainly oral.
And for good reason, the city's communications department was
"irregularly attached to the mayor's office"
, underlines the Regional Chamber of Accounts.
A “common”
practice
,
“in place since Charles Hernu”
, points out the mayor, who nevertheless assures that he has initiated a reorganization,
“effective from March”
.
The communications department attached to the mayor's office
This need was mentioned in the audit at the start of the mandate.
“Due to the isolation of the communications department from other municipal services, the content of the magazine would often have been out of step with the reality of their action,” indicates
the CRC.
The diagnosis highlighted, in particular, that Villeurbanne's communication took pleasure in taking on national subjects to deal with them locally (cannabis, electric scooters, gender equality, European migrations), even though the population, which is renewing itself on the “the entire municipal territory aspired to communication with a service dimension”
.
If the mayor emphasizes the transparency of his services, the Chamber also points to
“numerous irregularities in matters of public procurement”
, in particular on the rules of advertising and competitive bidding.
“However, these dysfunctions do not seem specific to purchases made on behalf of the communications department
,” she specifies.
Recognized by the municipality, they have justified, in the recent period, a reorganization of the public procurement service.
Among these dysfunctions, advertisements placed in local press organs, the regional newspaper
Le Progrès
, and the weekly
La Tribune de Lyon
.
On this point, the mayor believes that the state of possibilities does not allow for competition.
“This is a point of disagreement with the chamber, I do not see how we could have done differently without it costing more by paying intermediaries.”