The participation of political parties in local council elections has meant that politics has become part and parcel of local government. Some agree with this development, others do not.

However, whatever your opinion is, it would be utopian to envisage a scenario where political parties no longer participate in local council elections.

This being the case, the wisest course of action is to explore ways of using politics in a positive manner to strengthen the work of local councils.

First of all, it is positive to note that excellent work has been carried out by several local councils where councillors from different political parties cooperate in the best interests of the locality.

Unfortunately, this has not always been the case in some localities where continuous bickering between councillors from different political parties has hindered the work of the whole local council.

It is refreshing to note that the political parties are instructing their elected councillors to put aside politics and work together in the best interests of their locality.

One major problem in all this is the attitude of some of the residents. It is almost impossible to achieve positive results at a local level when some residents refuse to have anything to do with a particular local councillor simply because of the political party which the latter represents.

It is vital that no political party tries to gain political mileage through the partisan exploitation of the achievements of local councils

I know of several cases where a local councillor visited an area of a locality to tackle some urgent problem and was shunned by the residents simply because they supported a different party and not that of the councillor concerned.

No single political party has a monopoly on rudeness, uncivil behaviour and disrespect. Supporters of all the political parties have behaved in this condemnable manner at one time or another. The onus is on the parties to educate their supporters and inculcate in them the concept that, after an election, a local councillor represents the locality first and foremost, with the political party a distant second.

One of the most frustrating experiences of a local councillor is that of trying to work and achieve results with people who do not wish to be associated with him.

Even worse is the problem of having residents using the services of the local councillor of one political party in order to put pressure on a councillor of another party.

Sometimes, a resident will ask a local councillor to take action which that councillor considers not to be in the best interests of the locality and its residents. The resident then takes revenge by contacting a local councillor from a different political party, complaining about the uselessness and lack of cooperation of the other councillor. Such residents use local councillors as pawns in a game of chess where the chessboard is the locality.

Another problem is that of getting credit for work done. It is absolutely vital that no political party tries to gain political mileage through the partisan exploitation of the achievements of local councils where the party has a majority of councillors. It is very frustrating for a local councillor who is in a minority to see good work in the locality used as a political weapon by the political party which has a majority on the council.

Remember that when the political majority in a local council abuses its power for partisan political advantage, the outcome is usually very negative. The councillors in a minority will resent the fact that their work is being used to support the partisan agenda of another party.

Unfortunately, the result usually is that the local councillors in a minority will start opposing the majority and putting spokes in the wheels because of the politicisation of the work of the council.

It is sad to note that there have been several cases of local councils where the minority’s primary role has become that of obstructing in the most destructive manner the work of the majority.

I have indicated some major pitfalls which the politicisation of local councils brings with it. On a happier note, one has to note that there are several local councils whose constructive and impartial use of the political factor has led to notable local successes and achievements. Indeed, if one uses politics as a tool for constructive change, it is the locality and its residents who stand to benefit.

The next time you meet a local councillor, look at that councillor as a representative of your locality, not as a representative of the political party you vote for or the one whose policies you are dead against. Remember also that a united local council is a bonus for the locality while a divided one is an unwelcome liability.

The best interests of the locality and its community should guide all the actions and decisions taken by the local councillors and the residents of a locality.

Desmond Zammit Marmarà is a Labour Party councillor in Balzan.