Labour's vision for local councils

A new Labour government would revise the local wardens system so that wardens would no longer be used as an instrument of tax collection, Labour leader Alfred Sant promised yesterday.

He was speaking at the launch of electoral manifestoes for the 22 localities which hold elections on March 10.

While the second part of each manifesto is specific to each locality, the first part is common and represents the party's vision statement for local government.

In its vision statement the party is saying that the aim of local enforcement should, first and foremost, be educational, for the people to consider the observance of regulations as important in society and the community.

A Labour government would therefore ensure that the distribution of profits from the local wardens system would be centralised to ensure more equity and sense in the way people were fined as well as better conditions for wardens.

Dr Sant said that Labour realised the importance of decentralisation of power but also that this had to be accompanied by adequate human and financial resources.

A new Labour government would allocate human and material resources to be used on special projects in the community as identified by the councils.

A co-ordination unit would be set up with professional members from the Infrastructure Ministry to ensure that all infrastructural and other works were carried out in a co-ordinated way, eliminating duplication and the squandering of funds.

The unit would also set standards and see to their observance.

A new Labour government would give the environment maximum priority and also help councils to increase cultural development.

Another priority would be the social sector, particularly support for the elderly and families.

Councils would also be helped to benefit more from EU funds. Dr Sant said councils were still on a learning curve and they were not yet fully exploiting such funding possibilities.