The association said it had never been informed of the budget cutting and only got to know through various local councils. The association said that after its meeting with Dr Borg, it would be convening a meeting with all mayors to discuss the issue further.

Meanwhile, Malta Labour Party spokesman for local councils Chris Cardona said that only a few months after a five per cent budget cut, the government decided to lop another five per cent off its budget allocation to local councils. He said that it was only in October last year that the first decision was taken.

Dr Cardona said councils normally work on a one-year plan. “But the money allocated is already not enough to keep up with work plans. With the latest budget cut, the government is adding to the problems of local councils rather than helping them,” said Dr Cardona.

He said the latest decision was taken without even giving the local councils an explanation. “The decision was taken without informing the Local Councils Association, mayors or the councils,” he said.

He said that each council was going to receive thousands less than they had done previously and said that their work will suffer as a result.

He said the PN government’s decision was in breach of the local council laws as well as the European paper on local government which says councils should be consulted before decisions affecting their operations are taken. “And this comes just after the PN has made a big deal about the 10th anniversary since the local council system was introduced,” said Dr Cardona.