A hardworking council for Rabat (2)

It Is Customary that the quarterly financial statements of Rabat council are published to keep both the councillors and citizens updated on their local council's financial situation. These statements have, for the past few months, not been made available.

It is also said that Rabat council has changed its financial allocation on capital projects to fund the extensive patching programme on local streets; this on the eve of elections and being passed off as resurfacing.

I have been informed that during the last couple of council meetings, various bills were presented for work carried out over the last few weeks. It has also been said that the bills presented exceed the amounts voted for these works. Could any council representative confirm or deny this?

There are many other questions related to the council's financial situation which need to be answered.

Could someone responsible tell us why the quarterly financial statements are not being published? Could someone responsible give us at least the financial situation as at December 31, 2005? Do the invoices received by the council correspond to the works orders issued? Could the mayor inform us how much the works orders issued, for which the council has not received an invoice, amount to?

Could the mayor at least confirm that he will not allow this financial year to end in the red? Could the mayor confirm that the Local Council Act, which states that the council is obliged to leave a balance of five per cent of the financial allocation for the next financial year, is being observed? Is the Local Councils Department monitoring this situation?

These questions need answers. I hope that the new council, which will start to operate on April 1, will not have to be burdened with a financial deficit.