A course aimed at achieving better performance from councils’ employees was launched this morning by the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Councils Chris Said.

The course, E-Councils, is aimed at clerks, councillors, executive secretaries, and mayors, and is provided by TCTC. The subjects range from ICT, soft skills, administration and management.

Public administration, including policies, tendering and audit regulations, public speaking, customer care; and what it entailed to be an e-councillor, were also to be covered.

Dr Said stressed the importance of training with the aim of improving the quality of services offered by councils.

He said that the increase in human and financial resources for councils this year, as a result of the reform, would be meaningless if councillors and employees were not trained and qualified to provide an efficient service to residents.

Such courses, coupled with others offered by councils to the local community, were clear evidence of the extended role of councils.

TCTC managing director Ray Abela said the company ventured on a Public Private Partnership with councils with a vision to go further than just an induction course.

The E-Councils course was intended to lead to other areas of specialisation such as public administration, administration and secretarial diplomas, as well as specific training, public speaking and presentation techniques.

The course is open to all councils in Malta and Gozo and will be delivered from TCTC community training centres.