The City of Agen is ending shared services with the Agglomeration of Agen, impacting 375 employees starting March 1, 2027, as part of a reorganization led by Mayor Laurent Bruneau.
End of shared services in Agen
The City of Agen is ending part of its shared services with the Agglomeration of Agen, affecting 375 employees who will change employers starting March 1, 2027. This move is part of a reorganization led by Mayor Laurent Bruneau and his majority, aiming to let the mayor directly oversee staff handling the city’s exclusive responsibilities, such as schools, police, and cultural services.Municipal council approves the change
The decision was approved by the municipal council on September 28, with seven votes against. The council cited the need to align the administrative structure with the distribution of responsibilities between the city and the Agglomeration. This follows a review of how powers and duties are shared between the two local authorities.Shared services since 2015
Since 2015, the City of Agen and the Agglomeration had shared a common administration. However, the new political leadership—Bruneau as mayor and Olivier Grima as Agglomeration president—has raised questions about the effectiveness of this shared system. The separation is expected to cost an additional 320,000 euros for the City and 80,000 euros for the Agglomeration for management and staff adjustments.Concerns over coordination
Olivier Grima, president of the Agglomeration, expressed worries about coordination challenges for certain tasks, such as urban cleanliness and waste management. These responsibilities currently rely on complementary services between the two entities, and Grima believes the separation could complicate these efforts.Impact on employee mobility
The end of shared services may reduce opportunities for employees to move between the two local authorities. Grima noted that 40% of the affected staff had benefited from internal promotions since 2015. Deputy Mayor Naïma Lasmak assured that employees would keep their rank and salary level during the transition.Next steps and negotiations
By March 1, 2027, the two local authorities must finalize the distribution of staff, responsibilities, and logistical needs. Discussions are ongoing with the municipal social action center (CCAS), and the city has outlined the need to clarify the target organization, affected services, and procedures for transferring employees. The City plans to continue negotiations with the Agglomeration to ensure public services remain uninterrupted.
