The government's decision to increase funding for local infrastructure projects to €12.8 million over the next two years is a positive initiative that deserves to be welcomed.
Local councils need resources if they are to address the everyday problems that affect residents: deteriorating pavements, accessibility issues, public spaces in need of attention and other relatively small interventions that can make a significant difference to the quality of life in a community.
The principle behind the scheme is also sound. Local councils are closer to residents than central government and, provided they are given the necessary resources and technical support, they should have a strong say in determining where investment is most urgently needed.
There is, however, one question which the government needs to answer.
Why does this particular scheme not apply to local councils in Gozo?
The government has confirmed that the €12.8 million agreement between the Public Works Department and local councils covers councils in Malta, while Gozitan councils are to continue receiving support through the Ministry for Gozo.
The Labour Party's explanation is that Gozitan councils are not being excluded from investment because similar initiatives are funded through the Ministry for Gozo. That may be so. But it does not fully answer the question of why a distinction is being made in the first place.
If the government believes that local councils should have greater autonomy, and if it accepts that councils themselves are best placed to identify the priorities of their communities, why should that principle be different in Gozo?
The issue is not necessarily whether Gozo is receiving money for infrastructure. It is whether Gozitan councils are being given the same mechanism, autonomy and direct access to resources as their counterparts in Malta.
There may well be administrative or organisational reasons for the different arrangements. If there are, the government should explain them clearly.
This should not detract from the merits of the €12.8 million scheme itself. Indeed, the government should be encouraged to expand rather than restrict opportunities for local councils to improve their communities.
The 123 projects completed under the previous agreement demonstrate that such cooperation can produce practical results. The increased allocation provides an opportunity to do even more.
But the councils themselves must also rise to the occasion.
Some local councils are noticeably more proactive than others. There are mayors who work hard, identify problems, seek funding, pursue projects and continually look for ways to improve their locality. Others appear content to carry out the basic functions of administration without showing much ambition beyond what is strictly required.
That should not be acceptable.
A local council is not merely another layer of bureaucracy. It exists to serve its community. Councillors and mayors should be constantly looking at what can be improved and should actively seek assistance when resources are available.
This applies equally to Malta and Gozo.
The government has taken the right approach in recognising that councils need greater financial and technical support. It should now apply the same logic consistently. If Gozitan councils are receiving equivalent opportunities through a different mechanism, the government should publish the details and demonstrate that this is genuinely the case.
If the objective is stronger local government, there should be no second-tier version of it.
The €12.8 million scheme is a good idea. Local councils should make full use of it, and those responsible for administering it should make it as accessible and effective as possible.