Nationalist councillors this morning stormed out of a Local Councils Association meeting in protest against what they described as the “lack of consultation” on the local enforcement reform.

The walkout was triggered by Victoria mayor Samuel Azzopardi who took the floor as soon as the head of the newly-formed local enforcement agency and former Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit was due to address the meeting.

The conference venue at Verdala.

“With all due respect, the association, the regions and not even the councils have been consulted over this reform, apart from the fact that everything had been decided beforehand,” he said.

Dr Azzopardi said that nowhere in the EU was the local warden system  centrally managed like in Malta, with councils relegated as “mere spectators”.

“For this reason we feel that we cannot remain for the introductory address of Mr Zammit,” he said. However, as soon as Mr Zammit’s speech was over, the PN councillors re-joined the meeting,