A hot potato to local councils

In his speech at the opening of parliament, the President referred to local councils and to the need to further empower and sustain them.

Owen Bonnici took up the point in a short article carried in The Times on June 10. I would like to share with your readers an evening's experience related to the issue.

At its last annual general meeting, the Mosta local council presented its budget for the current year, the last of its mandate. The news that the council, after five years of struggling to balance the books, had succeeded in erasing all the debt it had inherited, generated some hope in many of those present who had come expressly to complain about the appalling state of their roads: no asphalting in spite of road contributions paid up 16 years before, cold-asphalted roads regularly full of potholes after the first rains, children suffering of asthma because of unmade, dusty roads, etc.

This time round, the council was reserving Lm77,000 of the Lm330,000 government allocation (that is, nearly 25 per cent) for resurfacing of roads.

It seemed almost impressive, until, that is, it was disclosed that one average-length road cost around Lm30,000. And..., we were then told, there are over 100 roads on the waiting list. It is easy to understand that at this point those who had come expressly to give vent to their frustration, did more than this.

While sharing their exasperation, I could not understand why these people were lambasting the council when they were fully aware of the funds available.

None of those present could suggest which of the planned expenses could be cut in order to allocate the money for roadworks. Apparently, the council had done its homework well. Even if someone had found a way of eliminating some items in the budget for a total of Lm30,000 (a pious hope indeed), would this really have solved anything?

The more vociferous protesters made comparisons with other towns and villages, where many, many roads had been hot-asphalted. How did these councils manage when government allocations are calculated on the same bases for all localities? The cost of roadworks, one should think, does not vary that much from Mellieha to Marsaxlokk. Any explanations?

Questions were asked whether any consideration is given to the fact that ours is a fast expanding town while other towns have no room at all where to expand. But being rightfully angry, people are not easily convinced, especially if cogent arguments are not easily available.

I do not think it is fair to blame local councils for this unhappy and unhealthy state of things. I was sorry to see councillors who are voluntarily giving up a considerable chunk of their free time to see to the needs of their locality and community being reproached for something over which they have absolutely no control. I imagined most of them asking themselves "but what made me go in for this sort of thing?".

Central government cannot pass on this hot potato to local councils and then leave them to face the anger of the public by not providing the necessary funds for basic infrastructural works necessary for a decent, and healthy, everyday life.

Nor does it augur well for the future of local councils. One therefore really hopes that the President's words will be heeded.