“The government is holding consultations and is open to suggestions about the reform of local government,” Chris Said, Parliamentary Secretary for public dialogue and information, told The Malta Independent.

It was making sure that mayors, deputy mayors, councillors and council staff were given the necessary training and an intensive training course was to be held soon for newly-elected mayors and councillors.

Talks and discussions are taking place between the Local Councils Association, and the Department for Local Government, Dr Said added.

“The elected councillor is expected to be an expert in several matters as soon as he steps into office. This is not at all easy especially for those who are elected for the first time,” he said.

He also referred to the high percentage of young mayors taking office and said that this was a very important aspect for Malta. “Councils should better reach people’s expectations and give more value for money after the local councils’ reform takes place,” Dr Said said.

“Local councils should be administered with more transparency and accountability for better collaboration with residents,” the Prime Minister had said when he announced the consultation process last week.

Dr Said said councils in the same region should also join up and provide certain services on a regional basis, which would improve the services offered and result in less wastage of resources.

He argued that a serious study needed to be made about the “funding formula” for local councils. Currently all localities are given an allocation based on this formula with no consideration of the special needs of certain localities which have to cater for the influx of thousands of Maltese and tourists who visit that locality every day, said Dr Said.

The parliamentary secretary explained that these localities should be given to them since they should present the best environment. Better allocation of funds would also help in the day-to-day running of such localities where roads, pavements, public conveniences and other services should be improved.

Dr Said said the government was considering offering “special funds” to certain local councils.

“Localities coming up with projects in line with the government’s plans should benefit from such funds,” he said, adding that during the consultation process, the government would be listening to all those involved, including citizens.

“The six-month intensive programme of consultations and discussions with the Local Councils’ Association, the Association of Local Council Executive Secretaries (ASKLM) and all those involved in the councils’ operation would result in more coordination between the central government and local councils,” he explained.

Another issue on the agenda is whether the local council’s term of office should be extended since many consider a three-year period to be too short.

Dr Said pointed out that if the period were to be extended, the country may not have to face an election every year but once every two years with two sets of councils alternating.

Other suggestions currently being made relate to mayors, and whether they should be in office for more than two legislatures. Another issue being discussed is whether councillors should receive an allowance to cover the expenses they fork out to perform their duty. Although councillors can apply for refunds for phone calls, fuel or other services given, some simply do not bother to apply for any while a few others abuse of the situation. Whether mayors in larger localities should receive different remuneration is also being discussed.

The way forward for local governance is to promote sustainable localities, stressing the point that all decisions and actions should belong to a local plan that forms part of the national plan. For proper functioning, local doings should not diverge from national policies.

As the name implies, the emphasis of local councils will remain the betterment of its local territory in terms of infrastructural works, embellishments, cleanliness and others. However apart from the “physical aspect” it is important to also incorporate the “social aspect” including local values, customs and traditions that shape up the local identity. “Local councils are about people,” said Dr Said in conclusion. “Their success should be measured in terms of their ability to influence positively the everyday life of the residents in their localities.”