Councillors are being given a bigger say in local leadership thanks to the Association of Local Councils (AKL), said association president Michael Cohen.

Speaking during a meeting with councillors, Mr Cohen said the association was giving councillors the opportunity to get together during specific meetings and in this way, they were being given a more important role in drafting local policies.

Mr Cohen appealed to councillors to commit themselves to improve existing policies that would contribute to a better standard of living for citizens.

He spoke about a number of AKL initiatives on both local and national levels, saying the association’s executive was looking forward to another meeting for councillors and mayors in September or October.

He also announced that councillors would be meeting Archbishop Paul Cremona OP in June.

Mr Cohen said that among the activities organised by AKL, in collaboration with the Department of Local Government and the Association of Executive Secretaries, were seminars and training for mayors, councillors and executive secretaries.

AKL vice-president Claudette Abela Baldacchino made reference to the drafting of policies within local councils, which play an active role in the democratic process.

She also questioned whether it was time that vice-mayors and councillors be given a bigger role in the decision-making process.