Mayors want guarantees on financial allocations

A majority of Labour mayors yesterday approved a number of motions during a meeting for mayors organised by the Association of Local Councils.

One of the motions, approved by 33 votes for, 31 against and two abstentions, said that by reducing the financial allocation to councils without consultation, the government was expressing a vote of no confidence in the councils, which were not being able to implement their programme.

The motion, moved by Hamrun mayor Luciano Busuttil, called on the government to guarantee that it would not again reduce the councils' financial allocation.

When addressing the meeting earlier, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said that the financial allocation to councils had increased both directly and indirectly, and their collective allocation next year was of Lm11,348,000.

Through by-laws, the minister said, councils could also come up with their own schemes to increase their funds, such as by allowing advertisements on street furniture and through the use of council premises.

Another motion, also moved by Dr Busuttil, expressed its disappointment with the government that there were still many occasions where the government and its organisations could consult councils and the association but this was not being done, although it was stipulated by law.

It encouraged the government to consult councils in all its decisions so that the consultation left the desired affect in favour of councils and their localities.

It was approved by 33 votes for, 31 against and two abstentions.

The meeting approved an amendment moved by Hamrun mayor Luciano Busuttil to a motion moved by Pietà mayor Malcolm Mifsud.

The amendment called on mayors who had the responsibility to call meetings to request the government to provide sufficient legal amendments to protect the rights of councillors to attend council meetings without prejudicing their jobs. It was approved by 33 votes for, 29 against and two abstentions.

The mayors also unanimously approved a motion, moved by St Paul's Bay mayor Paul Bugeja calling on the association to work for the contribution which owners of food establishments paid the Malta Tourism Authority to be passed on to councils to be used in the locality of the establishments in consultation with the MTA.