Local councils are calling for their terms of office to be extended by up to two years, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Consultation Chris Said said yesterday.

Dr Said said the 19 local councils he had met so far argued that their three-year term did not give them enough time to implement their plans. The Parliamentary Secretary, a former mayor of Nadur, said he agreed with this view.

He was speaking at a press conference in Safi on the consultation process currently underway on the reform of local government.

He said there were no calls for a reduction of the number of councils. In fact, some argued that there should be more to cover more villages.

Dr Said said several councils had also called for the funding formula to be reviewed, especially in the case of councils which experienced a heavy influx of non-residents during the day, such as Valletta.

Dr Said said other suggestions had been made related to how neighbouring councils could work together on a regional basis. Some councils believe they should be responsible for the cleanliness of arterial roads of residential homes. Others called for a special fund for major projects handled by councils.

Councils also wanted information on EU programmes they could apply for, as well as help on applying for funds and financial assistance when it came to co-financing EU projects.

Councils need to work together on a regional basis to save money and offer better services and should also unite to apply for EU projects, he said.

Regional meetings with the Prime Minister's participation were starting soon and leaflets were being sent to all households in August.

All suggestions, he said, were being gathered in a report so that the government would have a clear picture of what everyone wanted. A unit was being set up at the Office of the Prime Minister to analyse and categorise suggestions.

Dr Said said it was hoped that legislation on reforming local councils would be presented to Parliament late this year or in early 2009.

By that time he intends to meet all local councils, constituted bodies and NGOs and is also holding meetings with the public.

The relevant bill and proposed amendments for all relative legal notices will be published towards the end of this year or at the beginning of the next.

Further information may be obtained from www.kunsillilokali2015.gov.mt .