Think tank suggests local elections every four years

An independent think tank yesterday submitted a list of proposals for local council reform, suggesting, among other things, that mayors should only be allowed to serve for two terms in office.

The document, written by the Today Public Policy Institute, proposed that local council elections are held all at once every four years, replacing the present staggered process. This would also mean that councillors would serve for four years instead of three.

The think tank called for councillors to be regularly trained in public administration and finance and for local councils to be given more responsibility when it comes to sustainable development and environmental issues in order to reduce bureaucracy and increase local participation.

It was also suggested that a central government support structure is strengthened to oversee projects of national importance that impact various councils, thus ensuring greater coordination.

The document called for more regulatory authority to be devolved in the areas of waste collection, cleanliness, litter and dumping, the control of vehicle emissions, the processing of some planning applications and countering planning abuses, land use, local cultural heritage and tourism-related initiatives.

"Local councils should be held directly responsible for achieving targets set for cleanliness by the central government and the budget-setting formula for this should reflect the councils' performance in meeting their targets," the document said.

The think tank said that Green wardens should be introduced at the local council level and that a new Clean Environment Consortium should be formed by the central government, matching the concept of the Environmental Landscapes Consortium.

"Enforcement of the law on littering and cleanliness should be exercised by local councils through a central, government-controlled environmental enforcement agency to be formed by the government and which would include Green wardens within local council areas."

The think tank is not in favour of the introduction of local taxes at this stage of local government development, though this was an area that should be kept under regular review.

The 10-page document was sent to the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Chris Said who is leading the local council reform process. It was also forwarded to the Prime Minister, the political parties and the Local Councils Association.

The think tank is made up of Martin Scicluna, Sina Bugeja, Stephen Calleia, Juanito Camilleri, George Debono, Ranier Fsadni, Marlene Mizzi, Philip Micallef, Joseph Sammut, Jacques Sciberras, Peter Serracino Inglott, David Spiteri Gingell, Joseph V. Tabone and Joseph F. X. Zahra.

The Today Public Policy Institute has also published reports on the environmental deficit and the reform of Mepa and on fossil fuel pollution and the use of alternative energy. The next series of reports will cover illegal immigration, the affordability of Malta's social security system, the civil dissolution of marriage and the Constitution.