Administrative committees for hamlets such as Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and Swatar could soon be dissolved and their authority reinvested in local councils.

The proposal was revealed on Friday morning by parliamentary secretary for local councils, Silvio Parnis, during the launch of a White Paper on local government reform.

There are 16 administrative committees in total, including those for Marsalforn, Xlendi, Paceville, Kappara, Madliena. Set up in 2002, the government is now keen to remove them, saying that committee chairpersons had no role in decision-making processes.

A number of committees also struggled to attract candidates during local council elections, meaning some of them have not convened for some time, Mr Parnis said.

Instead of having administrative committees, the government is proposing that a local councillor will be responsible for the hamlets they used to represent.

The white paper also suggests allowing 16-year-olds to run for the post of mayor, after they became eligible to vote in the elections a few years ago, and setting a three-term limit for mayors, meaning they can serve for a maximum of 15 years.

The government is also proposing a wider remit of responsibilities for regional committees, arguing local councils should focus on social, education and community initiatives.

It also suggests amending a constitutional clause concerning local councils to “reflect the concept of local government”.

You can have your say on the proposed reform here: https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/MJCL/Pages/Consultations/WhitePaperontheLocalGovernmentReform.aspx