The government is prepared to take all actions that are legal to ensure that local councils operate in accordance with the law, parliamentary secretary Stefan Buontempo has warned.

During a conference organised for council executive secretaries earlier today, Dr Buontempo said the results of a report by the National Audit Office on the workings of local councils were unacceptable and could not be repeated.

The annual report noted various shortcomings in council’s operations, many prevailing from previous years. Among several other issues, a total of 31 local councils were unable to provide fiscal receipts to cover €389,804 worth of payments made during 2014.

“The situation is very worrying,” Dr Buontempo said. “I cannot accept the various shortcomings identified by the auditor. Today, I chided the executive secretaries; from next year we will bring the law to bear on councils’ operations.”

The parliamentary secretary highlighted issues with the lack of audited accounts, works carried out on expired contracts, and the issuing of unnecessary direct orders with a lack of accountability.

Dr Buontempo stressed the importance of the role of executive secretaries, as set out by law, in ensuring that councils act legally and transparently. “The quality of good governance in local councils rests on you,” he told conference attendees, “and you have to be ready to shoulder that responsibility.