The Association for Local Councils’ Executive Secretaries yesterday said that it agreed with the recommendations of the Ombudsman, Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Said Pullicino, to increase their autonomy within local councils.

In a statement, association president Adrian Mifsud said the recommendations were similar to those which the association has made on several occasions. He said that in the past, the Auditor General had suggested that parliament should change the law so that executive secretaries will have more liberty to carry out their duties.

Mr Mifsud said executive secretaries do not only run the local councils on a day-to-day, but also act as watchdogs on how public funds are being utilised by the councils. Moreover, he said, the association believes that talks with the Local Councils Association and the Local Government Department should continue in order to improve communication between the elected councillors and the council’s executive.

Concluding, Mr Mifsud urged the House of Representatives, the Deputy Prime Minister and both political parties to change the Local Councils Act for executive secretaries to be more autonomous in their profession.