Local councils want more funding

Local Councils Association president Ian Micallef yesterday urged the government to allocate more funding for local councils.

Speaking at a conference on the challenges facing local government, Dr Micallef observed that this was the tenth anniversary of the ratification by Malta of the European Charter on local government.

While local government in Malta met the obligations of the European charter, a lot could be done to improve local councils.

He said that given the responsibilities that the councils now had, the time had come for a review of their funding by the central government. With funding having been static for the past three years, there was now clearly a need for a raise.

Dr Micallef said he was concerned by remarks by Finance Minister John Dalli who, in reply to a parliamentary question, said that, like any other entity which received state funds, the councils this year were also expected to commit not more than 90 per cent of the funds allocated to them until the government revenue position was clarified.

In terms of the charter, the local councils should not have interference in the way they spent their funds, Dr Micallef said.

The spending made by the councils generated economic activity. One should not repeat the mistake made in the past when funding for local councils was reduced for two years in succession, to the extent that some council activities had to be shelved or curtailed.

Dr Micallef urged the government to consider the concept of shared taxation, where local councils would receive a portion of government revenue from activities held within a council's boundaries.

For example, why did local councils not receive a portion of the fees paid by restaurants which were permanently allowed to set up tables on pavements, when it was the councils which were responsible for the maintenance of those pavements?

Dr Micallef said it was also time for councillors to be given an honorarium for their voluntary work. Councillors currently could claim expenses, but the system was so bureaucratic that many, himself included, simply did not apply for reimbursement.

There was also need for the government and its departments to improve the level of consultation with local councils. Recently, the Land Department started issuing permits for the use of public land by restaurants, but no local council was invited to make its comments beforehand.

Dr Micallef looked forward to further delegation of responsibilities to local councils as long as the councils were sufficiently prepared for them.