These past few days the government, through parliamentary secretary Chris Said, has initiated a broad discussion on local council reforms. This open discussion will lead to the process of introducing changes. He is set to meet up with all local councils, councillors and gather suggestions from all interested parties. Having been in local councils since their inception, way back in 1994, and served as mayor, presenting myself in four local council elections, I may state that councils have since trebled in financial allocations, and some thoughts must now be concentrated on the administration and responsibility parts.
People’s expectations from councils have grown to certain heights. Councils are deemed to be the start and end all point, a one-stop shop. Councils should not only serve as the customer care service of any government, but act as a local government. It is elected and political responsibility lies within the council to exercise good financial housekeeping, while abiding by the laws of the land.
The Nationalist Party was right in believing in the local people for local councils. How right it was in its vision! Labour had to adapt itself and accept the concept, although within its 22-month tenure, the revenue given was reduced.
These reforms are intended to get councils closer to residents. As I said in parliament, my first thought goes to the various hamlets that exist in the 9th and 10th district, namely Paceville, Ibrag, Madliena and Kappara. Many residents have the feeling of being left out, and i did suggest that hamlets, unless they possess the right conditions of making their own council, should have a councillor to represent them. Financial allocation from the central government is to be presented as a separate account, thus the residents would be satisfied both with representation and with transparency.
A hamlet representative on that council would know and understand the residents’ needs, and follow them closely.
There are instances when councillors stay away from official council meetings for months, or enter a council meeting late, or leave early, avoiding decision making or voting on a particular item. An elected councillor should fulfil an obligation of attending official council meetings in full. A councillor takes an oath, after being elected, and that oath must be binding. The minimum for official meetings is set at once a month, thus it is an obligation for councillors to attend and be informed about all that is going on in the locality.
Abolishing the six-month grace period of non attendance would be a suggestion. Of course, prolonged sickness is a valid and understandable excuse.
Correspondence arriving at a council should be answered, not via an acknowledgement only, but an answer that satisfies the resident. Based on the parliament system where a PQ is duly answered within days, this should not prove to be an obstacle.
Presently a council is elected for a three-year term, and Malta votes yearly. Government work does stall somewhat in the run up to a local election, and this time can be saved by having no elections in some years. A slightly longer term could be a solution. Sometimes a three-year period is short and is not enough for a council to carry out its work properly.
This reform is thought to continue building on the sound foundations that the Nationalist government set out and carried out. Councils are a must in Malta, and again hats off to the new government for starting the reform.
After all, flimkien kollox possibli (together, everything is possible).
Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP