Local councils in for major overhaul

Building on the success of the local councils since their inception 15 years ago, the proposed amendments to the Local Councils Act aim to ensure that the local government system fulfils the aspirations of residents for the best possible service.

Introducing the second reading of the Bill, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said yesterday told Parliament that, as a reaction to the consultation process it had launched, the government had received some 8,000 suggestions, of which 4,200 came from the general public. It transpired that residents want to see more effective, efficient, transparent and accountable councils which would translate into better value for money.

The consultation process also showed that civil entities must work more closely with local councils. These included Enemalta, the Water Services Corporation, the Transport Authority, Heritage Malta, Mepa and a number of other entities and public utilities. More cooperation was needed throughout.

Dr Said said that 30 administrative decisions had already been implemented. Legal notices had been issued and others were being drafted, to put into practice other recommendations with no less than 60 suggestions covered by the proposed amendments to the Local Councils Act.

For the first time ever, the government had launched its policy on local councils, which would be updated after further consultations with all stakeholders as times went by.

Through an IT network, a new customer care system had been put in place. Through this state-of-the-art system, residents' claims would be transmitted to the body concerned in real time, making it a first step to a one-stop-shop system in all the 68 localities. This would save residents from having to go to various government departments. Central authorities must give their feedback in a stipulated timeframe.

The government was making available special funds to help make local council offices accessible to people with disabilities and older citizens. Up to 50 per cent of the councils were already accessible, 29 per cent could become so with alterations and the other 21 per cent, which could not become accessible, would be helped to find alternative offices.

After the summer, local council offices would also be open to the public on Saturday mornings to satisfy the needs of working residents.

Dr Said announced that there would be a revision of local enforcement. Introduced 10 years ago, this instilled discipline and order and had left positive results in traffic management. However, the government was not happy with regard to other sectors, including the environment, building sites, construction dust and animal welfare. The revision would not mean more fines.

To become sustainable, localities would be helped financially to embark on a professional study based on consultations held with the residents. Twenty localities had already applied for funds to carry out such a study and in three years, all 68 councils would be assisted.

Local councils would be helped with human resources, and all had been asked to identify shortages. The government aimed to help them through the community workers scheme announced in the budget. The ETC was interviewing people unemployed for more than five years to see how they could fit in with councils' needs.

Dr Said said the government would help councils with financial resources according to national budget limitations. This had already been implemented through the increase of more than 17 per cent in direct allocations, the biggest increase councils had ever had since their existence.

The government had launched a special fund of half-a-million euros for those localities where special problems, such as an influx of tourists or summer residents, exerted pressure on their normal budgets.

Other funds totalling one million euros had already been made available by the government to 27 local councils to implement cultural activities, and to 25 others for sports during the winter months. The funds also covered the better use of energy or alternative energy, and 41 councils had applied to change normal light-bulbs into energy-saving ones. Help had already been extended to local libraries.

Dr Said said that in fulfilment of an electoral promise the government had set up a funding unit within Meusac which, in its first five months, was helping local councils to access EU funds. Exceptional results had been registered, with a record number of applications submitted by the councils.

There were three main problems for local councils to access EU funds: lack of information, lack of expertise and co-financing. The unit had provided professionals who voluntarily were helping the councils and non-governmental organisations to fill in application forms. The applications decided locally were all accepted by the EU.

Dr Said explained that local councils were being helped to co-finance large projects through a €300,000 fund. €3 million from EU funds above the local councils' normal budgets were being allocated, amounting to 15 per cent of the local councils' collective budget.

Another €4 million were to be used on the "leader-plus programme". Three foundations, one for Gozo, one for the north and another for the south of Malta, had been set up. They had been given €95,000 to set up strategic plans on ways of strengthening rural areas.

It was the government's aim that every council would benefit from EU funds during the current year. By the end of this week, Meusac would be helping 64 local councils and NGOs with applications accessing more than €1 million in EU funds.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that 66 per cent of suggestions made by the public dealt with cleanliness and road maintenance in their localities. More financial and other resources were being allocated to encourage local councils to take more initiatives.

As part of the transparency and accountability process, local councils now had to publish all the quotations they received for contracts awarded. After consulting the association of local councils a new code of ethics and good practice and a protocol were to be published.

The Local Councils Reform Bill was putting into effect the three principles governing local government: subsidiarity, solidarity and sustainability. More decisions were to be taken at local level. Local councils were to engage in more social work, and greater collaboration was being envisaged. Sustainability could be arrived at through long-term planning in consultation with residents and local associations.

The councils had to invest in the preservation of the rural and urban environment. They could benefit from millions of euros in EU funds to take initiatives on climate change and on efficient and alternative energy usage. They were the promoters on waste management and had the responsibility to also preserve the local identity.

Dr Said said the Bill acknowledged the authority of local councils to encourage and promote local artistic talent. It also envisaged that councils would use school facilities to provide lifelong learning programmes and other activities. Councils had been given more funds to renovate local libraries. For the first time, the Bill was introducing initiatives by local councils in the social sector.

It also aimed for them to work hand-in-hand with the commercial community and to organise activities to promote local tourism. To this end the first-ever call for tenders worth £2 million had been issued for local councils to enhance their respective tourism product.

The amendments also introduced the private-public-partnership principle. This would give the councils the opportunity to work closely with the private sector and NGOs.

The councils must involve residents through frequent, well-timed meetings, and two important amendments provided for a referendum for residents' approval for large loans over more than eight years.

Dr Said said there would be administrative committees for communities, such as small villages and hamlets. Such committees would be given a financial allocation out of the local council's allocation.

The Bill also provided for transparency, human resource training and financial resources based on suggestions made by auditors in their reports over the last 15 years. Their suggestions had been included.

Another important change for transparency and accountability was the change in the operations of the executive secretary of the council, who must be the person ensuring that financial regulations and procedure were adhered to.

To avoid the executive secretary shying away from reporting shortcomings in the council's work, he would now be accountable to the Local Councils Department, even if appointed by the council. The secretary was deemed to be the only person to nip any abuse in the bud.

Another concept being introduced was that if a council did not utilise funds earmarked for works such as roads or waste collection, the government would reduce the relevant quarterly allocation.

Dr Said said that steps were being taken to introduce a code of ethics for councillors.

The councils' term was being extended from three to four years so that they could plan their programmes better.

Concluding, Dr Said said that all amendments were intended to help local councils become more effective, stronger and more capable of achieving the highest expectations of the residents in their respective localities.

Opposition spokesman on local councils Stefan Buontempo said that the proposed reforms were not far-reaching enough, and local councils should not continue to be money collectors through wardens. A report of his speech will be carried tomorrow.