When the Maltese government decided to set up local councils back in 1993, there were widespread concerns that this initiative would lead to administrative

burdens and that the decision-making power would remain entirely in the hands of the central government

Some feared that the councils would merely be civic committees in charge of petty matters. Today, however, it is evident that the councils have become increasingly important ever since the first elections were held. The landscape of local governance has changed in such a way that the Labour Party, despite its original decision not to officially contest the council elections 20 years ago, now uses the local councils to measure successes or highlight failures. This demonstrates that local councils have indeed added significant value to our cities, towns and villages.

The establishment of local councils formed part of the Nationalist administration’s efforts to bring about radical change in governance policy. Devolution was proposed as a way to cope with the large infrastructural and economic changes that were taking place in the country when the Nationalist Party was voted into power in 1987. Recognising the significance of empowering local governments, the administration delegated political powers by setting up 68 local councils. Some argued that 68 is a big number for the size of this island and proposed that smaller villages should be grouped together under one single Council. However, the success of local councils today shows that locals appreciate the fact that the distinct identities of their villages are represented individually and that they can actively contribute to their local community. After all, every village on the Maltese islands, however small it may be, has its very own character and its own needs that can differ from those of its neighbouring villages.

When the establishment of local councils was still in its infancy, the central government played a major role in providing guidance because of the limited influence that local governments held back then. Subsequently, it was Malta’s accession to the European Union that raised the profile of local councils significantly. Malta’s EU membership allowed local governments to benefit from the various schemes that the European Union has to offer. Slowly but surely, the local councils obtained more responsibilities, allowing them to provide better services to their citizens. While they were initially in charge of tasks such as waste management, their spheres of responsibility increased steadily, extending to issues such as road safety and the maintenance of public areas. There are now councils that focus on environmental issues, investing in alternative sources of energy and taking measures to combat climate change. Financially, they have evolved into administrators of budgets amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros that are used to improve people’s everyday life in their jurisdictions.

Local councils, with the help of the central government, have also invested in making their offices more user-friendly and accessible, all the while ensuring that they adapt to the needs of the local community. In addition, local councils have also focused on improving the efficiency of their services, for instance by introducing e-government services, reducing unnecessary paperwork and aiming to create a ‘one-stop shop’ for local citizens. The achievements in this respect are certainly laudable, although some improvements still need to be made with regard to interdepartmental cooperation, which would greatly enhance the outcomes of these initiatives.

In spite of the existing differences between towns and villages, there should be more joint projects that bridge two or more local councils. Partnerships, for instance when it comes to local wardens, will not only allow locals from various areas to work together, but also yield better solutions to projects, as councils could pool their ideas and best practices.

The compelling changes that were brought to the table through the introduction of local councils have managed to instil a sense of responsibility at local levels, especially amongst the younger generation. However, there is still a lot of work to be done in order to maximise the benefits of this governance system. Although there is a divide in opinion on local governance levels between both sides of the political spectrum, the current administration has annually increased budgets for local councils after seeing the positive results and the way in which local governments strive for constant improvement.

While it may be easier to point out flaws and downsides of local councils, it is also essential to recognise and appreciate the achievements that these councils have already made in bringing about positive change and creating solutions to local issues in the Maltese cities, towns and villages.