Who will take over the operation of the Raimu cinema in Cogolin?

A quorum easily reached, constructive and respectful exchanges between the two groups, and hostilities dispelled… the atmosphere of the previous term in Cogolin is a distant memory. For a month, the team led by Isabelle Farnet-Risso has been assessing its first issues, between analyzing urban projects and understanding the budget situation [to be read in an upcoming edition].

During the last council at the Maurin des Maures center this Monday, several decisions were made, including one to secure the future of the Raimu cinema.

” Its operation is ensured by the Sarl Cineode within the framework of a public service concession with the provision of premises for a period of five years, ending on December 31, 2026,” said Nicolas Founaux, assistant delegate for associations. “Given the expiration of this agreement, the city must decide on the most appropriate management method for this activity.”

After reflection, the municipality chose to renew the current method by launching a public call for tenders.

Although no councilor opposed this decision, Pierre-Yves Tierce intervened before the vote. The leader of the minority group “A course for Cogolin” reacted to the remarks made by one of his fellow members, presented to the public service delegation commission where the subject was discussed.

“There’s a great advantage to having a cinema in the city center. You all know that the film industry is doing very poorly in France,” he said. “Here, it’s a public service so we can’t manage it like a business, it’s not possible.”

“The stakes are to make ourselves attractive,” he continued.

The opponent continued his comment by warning the majority about the current situation: “By relaunching a public service delegation like this one, it is likely, as has happened in other communes in France, that no one will respond and it would be catastrophic! The key is to be attractive to do everything possible to keep a cinema in Cogolin and maybe even improve it. Do you know if the Cinéode group plans to respond again?”

“We have no information to this day,” said the official in charge of the dossier.

The majority counselor, Marc Cayrol, also spoke up to defend his team’s ideas: “Do you think that the priority of the people here is to no longer have a cinema or do you think that everyone will do their best to keep it in place? The answer seems obvious to me.”

Pierre-Yves Tierce reaffirmed his remarks. “I never said that anyone around this table wanted this cinema to disappear. I simply said that we need to approach it as a public service in the evolution of its time. Whoever thinks, tomorrow, that the goal of a public service delegation is to make money, is mistaken. That’s not the issue at all.”

With both perspectives shared, Nicolas Founaux closed the debate: “We thank you for this remark, and rest assured, the municipality does not make money!”