Local councils are official structures enjoying resources aimed at extending national services to the local communities. This helps them achieve the objective of acting as local governments. I base this assertion on the experience I gathered over time and, particularly, on a meeting I had with a Council of Europe rapporteur regarding the functions and responsibilities of local and regional authorities during an evaluation exercise on the state of local democracy in Malta.

Unfortunately, it emerged that the ultimate aim of local councils eventually to feature permanently in government structures is still beyond our reach. The day when local councils reach a stage where they can enjoy their full potential as laid down in the European Charter for Self-Government and Local Councils is still a far cry.

Regretfully, one must admit we have not yet managed to bring about an atmosphere wherein local councils can benefit their communities by providing services empowered by administrative structures that enable them to carry greater responsibilities that reflect the spirit of full democracy and good governance. If we were able to reach such a desirable stage, we would be able to respond to the needs of our communities with greater relevance and provide wider opportunities in the interest of the communities in which we function.

In their present state, local councils still depend heavily on the central government since, rather than acting as local authorities, they still acts as clients to that higher institution. On its part, the central government still considers them as stations wherefrom services may be distributed rather than civic structures that offer vision, planning and implementation in a spirit of devolution in the interests of democracy and governance at levels that are nearest to citizens.

Unfortunately, we are still in a situation where popular reaction is mounting against the very process of devolution, meaning the real distribution of the country’s resources in the interest of the community and its members. This process, which ought to bring about the attainment of real democracy, enhances the fair and equitable distribution of resources in an unprecedented spirit of democracy, managing public expenditure in a profitable way that gives better results among the communities up and down the Republic.

At the moment, local councils in their totality are only responsible for less than 1.5 per cent of the national government’s expenditure. This fact emerges more pitiable when it is compared to the 25-30 per cent figure obtained in other European countries.

It is sadly obvious we are not taking the 2015 Vision for local councils, based on the principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and sustainability, sufficiently seriously. This is the chief reason why we are not addressing, properly and adequately, problems relating to the quality of air, pollution in its many aspects, problems related to old age and social isolation, the challenges emerging in education, the provision and quality of water, problems related to the abuse of illegal drugs, the big needs in medical care and health care in the community… The list of social and economic problems is endless and we seem to be helpless before it.

Unless we embark, as soon as possible, on a serious plan of action, our communities will continue to suffer, sometimes silently at other times quite vociferously, in a state of despondency and helplessness. The first step we must take is an intellectual one. We must face the time during which ideas are inspired by the needs of the people around us or by a vision that aims at altering the reality on the lines we have discussed. The second stage is the implementation of ideas that evolve in a mature fashion.

A concrete and sensible plan must be laid out in light of the human, logistic and financial needs that emerge. This must take the shape of a serious business plan on the same lines that financial enterprises are managed and brought to fruition.

I am insisting on the need of effective planning because experience on the ground has made it clear to me this stage is the weak point in the efforts exerted by local councils so far. We cannot afford to continue labouring under the illusion local councils can function in an amateurish manner and still expect to achieve their stated missions.

I sincerely hope this brief exposition of what I reckon is sorely needed at local councils level will be heeded by the people involved and look forward to being able to contribute, personally and directly, to all efforts made in this direction. Our communities deserve such dedication to the task under review.

Dr Buontempo is shadow minister for local government.