Persistent calls are being made for the term of local councils to be extended to four years or five from the current three, the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Consultation, Chris Said, said today.

He was speaking at a press conference on the consultation process currently under way on the reform of local government.

He said all 19 local councils he has met so far had argued that three years was too short a term to plan and get things done. He said it was a view which he, as a former Mayor (of Nadur) shared.

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

It was also proposed that the government, through the Local Councils Department, should facilitate access by local councils to EU funds.

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.

Dr Said said other suggestions included ways how neighbouring councils could work together on a regional basis. Some councils said they, not the government, should be responsible for the cleanliness of arterial roads which have residents. Others called for a special fund for major projects handled by the councils.

There were no calls for a reduction of the number of councils. Indeed, some calls were made for their number to be increased, since each locality had its own identity, Dr Said said.

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