Given that they are now allowed the right to vote in local government elections, should 16-year-olds be now given the right to contest for council posts and even be appointed as mayors if they attain the highest number of votes, asks the newly published local government white paper.

The local government white paper was launched on Friday, with the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Silvio Parnis saying that the white paper proposed a set of reforms that would strengthen the role of local governments within society, and make sure that no person is left behind in the services that each local government provides.

Parnis said that the central aim of the paper was to give local governments with the tools to keep providing for society and all the new realities that it was facing. 

That 16-year-olds may be given the right to contest local elections, and possibly be appointed as mayors if they receive the highest amount of votes in the said election is just one of many proposed reforms that the white paper has put forward.

One other such notable proposed reform is that mayors should serve the council on a full-time basis, whilst a maximum term of office of three legislatures, or rather 15 years, for the role of mayor is another proposal on the table for consideration.

The council’s administrative committees will also be abolished if this white paper is adopted, with its role and function being further spread out over the council.  Parnis explained that the thought process behind this decision was due to the fact that not many people were applying to partake in this committee, and out of those who were, many wouldn’t see their terms through.   As a result, Parnis said, the administrative committees were largely ineffective.

The process for applying for permits from the local council will also be simplified, with the white paper proposing that the process is amended to ensure clarity in interpretation, charge reasonable and rounded fees, consolidate existing laws, and make the application process simpler through an online system.

Special focus has been given by the white paper to two particular elements; regional committees, and the social, educational and community aspects of the local council.

On regional committees, the white paper proposes that they are given increased responsibilities and resources as another level of local government.  As a result, the regional committees themselves will be known as regional councils, so to reflect these added responsibilities.

A new geographical composition of the island is proposed, which would yield six regional councils as opposed to five.  It is proposed that these regional councils take up various roles within their respective areas, such as waste separation in schools, assisting local councils in attaining and using EU funds, sponsoring research by educational institutions, coordination of sport and physical activities, formulate a framework for health clinics to become more accessible and offer a better environment, cooperate with the police and LESA, and carry out maintenance on monuments that are not designated national monuments.

Meanwhile in the social context, the white paper proposes a raft of points, including the strengthening of customer care units, emphasising initiatives to remove materials such as asbestos, embellishing and revamping squares, organising activities to integrate migrants and create a mutual respect between them and residents, and appointing community officers to work closer to citizens.

Parnis said that the proposals in the white paper were up to the public to judge, and that a public consultation period of six weeks was now open.