Councils need to be closer to citizens

Lawrence Gonzi and Chris Said deserve praise for the proposed changes to the local councils. It was about time that these were reviewed.

What is particularly welcome is something I wrote about in this paper last year, that it does not make sense for this country to have an election every year, blocking ministers' work for months as they campaign. The reform to extend their validity really makes sense. There is more, however, to be done. The local councils really need to support the local community, their associations and their citizens.

The councils were meant to be a local government, closer to the people, and yet so many of them are insensitive to what their own citizens request or propose. The annual meeting is in many ways a sham.

Let us make local councils more responsible, less keen on finding ways to create revenue and closer to the specific needs of the local communities. Dr Said is certainly capable of doing so.