MP suggests role for councils in housing estates' upkeep

Nationalist MP Mario de Marco asked yesterday whether the time had come to consider transferring responsibility for the upkeep of housing estates to local councils.

Speaking during the budget debate, he also asked if the councils could be more involved in the running of health centres, the issuing of building permits, the drawing up of local plans and the educational sector.

Dr de Marco said councils had become part of the country's social fabric. The people were giving more importance to the councils, which were in a unique position to unite organisations and societies and contribute to each locality by bridging all the different sectors.

For this year the government had allocated Lm10.25 million to the councils, some Lm50,000 more than last year. The councils also received revenue from by-law permits and other sources.

When they were set up the councils were given a direct contribution of Lm4.6 million. By 1996 this had gone up to Lm7.25 million, but the Labour government lowered this to Lm6.25 million in 1997 and Lm5.8 million for 1998.

Under the subsequent Nationalist governments, funds were again increased, with the direct contribution only being lowered to Lm10.15 million in 2004 from the Lm10.54 million in 2003. This was because the councils were allocated 138 former Drydocks employees whose salaries amounted to Lm828,000.

For 2006 the councils were being given a direct and indirect allocation of Lm11.4 million - a record amount. This showed who really believed in councils.

Dr de Marco said that councils generated another Lm2 million from local enforcement, by-laws and investments. The government also helped councils through the devolution of public property. Since 1998 the councils had been assigned 52 public properties.

The Local Councils Act had been fine-tuned, and through an agreement signed with the government, each council was to become an e-government agency and would be given a number of workers.

Several councils were exploring the possibility of taking part in EU programmes and regional projects. The central government had organised a seminar to help the councils benefit from special EU funds.

Dr de Marco underlined the importance of cost-effectiveness, but said this did not mean getting by with less. The people's expectations had risen and the councils should be more careful in the way they spent funds, concentrating on services appreciated by the people.

Dr de Marco said that it was important for councils to provide effective community leadership. The UK, for example, was proposing local area agreements to bring together various sources of funding.

Councils, he said, could give young people and the elderly the opportunity to be useful in their localities.

Chris Cardona, opposition spokesman on local councils, said that the funding for councils had not risen at the same rate as their duties.

For next year the government's allocation to the councils would be lower in real terms because their spending was increasing.

Over the past 12 months their financial burden had grown heavier because of the higher rate of VAT, eco-tax and higher prices. Next year the councils would pay some 25 per cent more on electricity and water. The new tariffs would also mean higher charges by contractors and suppliers.

The councils could not live beyond their means and the government should not think they could operate on thin air.

There were initiatives that councils could take. The Paola council, for example, was saving thousands in its cleansing contract by employing a number of sweepers on a definite contract, rather than giving a tender to a contractor.

But what was the government doing to make up for the deficit it created with councils and ensure they would be able to take new initiatives?

Dr Cardona regretted that there were people of every political belief who never believed in the councils, and this hindered councils from continuing to evolve in a positive manner.

The opposition believed Malta should have proactive and creative councils because, although money was important, creativity was the most important factor.

The government could not continue using local councils as a smokescreen.

Dr Cardona said there should be people who understood how EU funds worked in order to help councils come up with projects which could be eligible for this funding.

Why did the government not take the regionality aspect seriously, encouraging neighbouring councils to work together, thus saving money?

The government, he insisted, should encourage regional development and had to be willing to trust the ability of the people and allocate new funds for regionality if necessary.

Turning to the environment, he said that although this was a priority, a lot of promises had been made by the government which were not implemented. Marine protected areas, for example, had been promised for years but they had never come about. The local plans had also not been completed.

He hoped that the green wardens system would not be built on the traffic wardens system because this was creating a lot of problems and injustices.

Dr Cardona stressed the importance of having serious people running the councils. Cases being investigated by the Local Councils Department should be concluded quickly.

Home Affairs and Justice Minister Tonio Borg pointed out that in 1998, the Labour government had reduced the allocation for the councils even as the electricity tariffs rose steeply.

Dr Borg said council employees were enjoying better conditions. He was glad that now Dr Cardona had recognised the benefits to the councils of EU membership.