The White Paper on local council reforms is set to launch today, this newsroom is informed.
Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Silvio Parnis said last Wednesday, that the white paper was expected to launch for public consultation today, and this statement was backed by Justice and Local Government Minister Owen Bonnici yesterday.
Parnis, who spoke during a the launch of the organic bag scheme last Wednesday, addressed criticism on the amount of time this draft took by saying that they wanted a good reform proposal.
This reform government will give aid to local councils, he said, while adding that powers will be given to the regions. He said that the regional committees were setup in 2011, but were not given any powers. “Now they will be given powers, which will not take away power from the local councils, but new powers which did not exist before.”
He also said that they plan on giving regions their own budget to function as well.
Speaking with this newsroom about the bill after the conference, Parnis explained that the draft bill was passed through cabinet, and today the white paper will be launched. He said that they do not just want to go through with their ideas, but want the people to, in the six weeks following the issuing of the white paper, give their opinions and ideas. “For example, should a mayor be full-time if they want?”
This newsroom asked Parnis if there are any proposals in the white paper which would strengthen or increase the number of powers councils have, and whether there is anything relating to funding.
On funding, he said that government will see that local councils spend the funds given to them by government with care. They do, but we want to ensure that, if the government is giving €50 million a year to councils, the services are provided well. “One of the things we will do is oblige them to get a contract manager so that they would be going around in our localities. This, in order to ensure that we are getting results from the funds being given to contractors, which means seeing netter cleaning in localities, that garbage is collected as it is meant to, and to ensure that contracts for the planting and watering of plants and trees in gardens occurs.”
Asked if there will be an increase in funding for councils, or any changes in the mechanism regarding how they receive funds, Parnis said that each year government increases the funds to local councils.
“Each year government gives an increase of nearly €1.5 million to councils. The white organic bag will be picked up by Wasteserv.” He said that the black and recycling bag collection will still be paid for by the councils, but government will not be taking the funds for Wasteserv’s white bag collection from the councils. This is one way councils will be aided financially, he said.
In April 2018, the PN had issued its own document with 80 proposals for local council reform. The document titled "Local Councils that better serve you," was based on five principles: Social issues; security; cooperation between councils; public financial investment in localities; effective and efficient administration. On the social aspect for example, the PN said that every locality should conduct a social impact assessment to identify the problems in their localities, social problems, housing problems, persons at risk of poverty, and mental health.