Wardens and the local enforcement system were not set up to fill the local council's coffers but to ensure order within a community, according to Public Dialogue Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said.

The warden system was very expensive to run and had to be overhauled but a good local enforcement system had to educate the community and not focus solely on traffic fines.

Residents were more concerned with abuse at construction sites, dust and excessive noise and these were all forms of contraventions, Dr Said noted.

The government yesterday launched a policy document for local governance, almost a week after the official reform document was released and 15 years after local councils were set up. The reform will, among other things, bring about an extension to the local councils' term from three to four years, which, after 2010, means elections will be held every other year.

Speaking during a business breakfast, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the state of the roads and cleanliness were the residents' top priorities.

The local council reform formed part of the government's larger vision for sustainable development, which included the planning authority, public transport and rent reform, Dr Gonzi said. The planning authority reform document was about to be completed, he added.

The reform would grant local councils more autonomy, always within the remits of the law, while making them more accountable, Dr Said pointed out. Local councils would be carefully audited on how they spent their funds.

Several proposals included in the reform were already being implemented. In fact, this week, councils of localities that regularly dealt with a high influx of Maltese and tourists would receive the documents to apply for special funds. These localities, such as Buġibba and Valletta, would require more staff and funding when compared to other local councils.

Also, a referral system for complaints filed at the councils would be set up in May. Through this system, Dr Said explained, residents would know their complaints were sent to the authorities and receive an answer.

Councils could also take advantage of a scheme to employ people who registered for work to give their service in the community, he said.