MLP questions 'political attacks' on two councils

The Labour spokesmen for local councils, Charles Mangion and Joseph Cuschieri have raised a number of questions about the recent "political attacks" against Zebbug and Cospicua councils, both of them Labour-led.

"We had agreed (in parliament) on the need to amend the law to give the minister responsible for local councils the power to regulate the accountability of councils.

"We expect and insist that ministerial powers are used equitably, in a uniform way, without discrimination, and without any political motives," they said.

They asked why Zebbug council had been attacked when three weeks before it had advised the local councils department that it was taking action to curb its debts.

The council had asked the Department of Public Works to reduce a bill by Lm27,000 which would be reflected retrospectively in its June 2002 balance sheets.

The spokesmen also asked why no steps were taken against the Nationalist-led Sliema council even though an allowance approved for the secretary, as well as some donations, were irregular. The money was then cut from subsequent allocations to the council, to the detriment of Sliema residents.

"We believe that administrative and legal tools, agreed on between the two parties and the Association of Local Councils in order to strengthen the workings of councils, should not be used for political gain and discrimination," they said.