Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) European Members meeting in London. The main theme of the meeting was “Innovations in Local Government: Comparative International Experiences” and was attended by the Commonwealth’s EU Member States, namely Malta, the UK and Cyprus.
The Commonwealth Local Government Forum is the designated Commonwealth organisation for local government. The forum has been promoting local democracy and helping governments and local governments to assess the health of local democracy in their own countries. It has worked with members and key stakeholders to look at what factors, or principles are important for local democracy and good governance.
The main pillar of the CLGF is the Aberdeen Agenda. The Aberdeen Agenda stemmed from the 2005 Commonwealth Local Government Conference which, as the name implies, was held in Aberdeen and had “Deepening Local Democracy” as its main theme.
The conference brought together more than 500 senior local government stakeholders from more than 40 countries to consider what makes effective local governance. These discussions led to the “Aberdeen Agenda: Common Principles on Good Practice for Local Democracy and Good Governance” which was formally approved by CLGF Members.
Unfortunately commitments or declarations made at international conferences are often forgotten or not followed up. This has not been the case with the Aberdeen Agenda. The principles were formally incorporated as part of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values at the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta and reaffirmed at the 2007 CHOGM.
The principles are intended to guide Commonwealth states on core principles for promoting local democracy and governance to ensure that local development is participatory and citizen-focused, benefits local residents, and that residents have a major say in their governance and development.
Since the CLGF was established in 1995, some 160 organisations representing national and state ministries of local government, local government associations and individual local councils from more than 40 Commonwealth countries have taken up membership.
Malta’s participation over the last five years consisted of a regular contribution towards the updating of the Malta Profile for the CLGF Handbooks. With the cooperation of the Local Councils Association, we have also coordinated the CLGF Roundtable Meeting held in Malta between 25 and 27 October 2005.
This is not enough and has to change. Malta has much to benefit from this participation and we should do our utmost to maximise the potential and benefits that emanate from the CLGF. I have consistently stressed the importance of exchanges of culture, modus operandi and ideas between our Local Councils and their counterparts from Europe and beyond. But intellectual exchanges should not stop at this level. The CLGF gives us scope for wider exchanges, particularly in the strengthening of democracy, better local governance and the involvement of the residents.
During two-day meeting with UK and Cypriot counterparts ideas were exchanged and we learnt a lot from each other. It is interesting to note that, despite the differences between the three countries, there are common elements related to local governance that are better addressed together.
During the consultation process on the reform of our Local Councils I stated that despite our geographical dimensions our localities still have distinct characteristics, problems and issues. But this does not mean that there are no common issues. And these issues are not only common for our localities but also for European and Commonwealth states.
Addressing them together, or with the benefit of different perspectives, will ensure better and more effective solutions. Sharing innovation and reforms will translate into a better service to the resident.
There is also scope for closer cooperation between the Commonwealth’s EU Member States. The UK, Malta and Cyprus have much in common and working closer together will benefit all. In this regard it was agreed that the CLGF European Members will meet annually and it is our intention to hold the 2010 meeting in Malta. The CLGF will also produce a short report and follow up on specific issues and actions identified in each of these meetings.
We agreed that it is the moral duty of Commonwealth’s EU Members to work together to help other Commonwealth countries benefit from development funding. Joining forces and lobbying together within the EU structures will go a long way towards achieving this noble goal.
The CLGF European Members concluded the two day meeting by agreeing to the above and committing ourselves to exchange innovations and research among us and with other Member States in Commonwealth, and share documentation with the support of IDeA.
On my part, I will ensure that all of this will not remain just a set of agreed principles. I will strive to put them to practice for the benefit of our localities, our local authorities, and our residents.
Dr Chris Said is Parliamentary Secretary
in the Office of the
Prime Minister