Malta is a beautiful place to live in. I may indeed be biased because I happen to love my country. But one’s country is the place where one needs to feel at home; a safe place where to experience the joys and tribulations of life.

And like me, you may walk to some shore, gaze out onto a horizon through a vast expanse of deep blue sea, experience the beautiful serenity of our rolling hills to then return to the street were home is – and to wonder why our urban environment fails to complement Malta’s rugged beauty.

It is for this reason that I am delighted to shadow the local council portfolio. Because I am thoroughly convinced the local council is the platform from where we can harmonise Malta’s urban environment to its natural beauty.

I must admit that the reputation of local councils has taken something of a beating these last 12 months.

We first had the government’s loud proclamations of “reform” that promised communities the earth only to deliver pie-in-the-sky. The government’s sweet talk was indeed far removed from resources and realities on the ground as the promoter of these pseudo reforms has since slid gently onto fresh terrain away from the local council dynamic.

We then had the local council concept being seriously dented through an inexplicable onslaught by central government with an unending string of failures to protect most aspects that have a bearing on the quality of our environment.

But this has certainly not diminished my enthusiasm to work towards a vision that sees our urban environment becoming efficient, cleaner, greener and safer.

We need to have pride in our streets. We need to have access to an easy point of contact for all services associated with the management of streets and open spaces. We need to have set standards of service that will be underpinned by effective harmonisation between departments to ensure that these standards are maintained. Every household must be aware and observe collection times of domestic refuse that respond to their circumstances. Our reports on matters such as litter, dog fouling, recycling, faulty street lights and problems with the road or pavement must be addressed effectively and efficiently through the harmonisation of resources. We need to extend this harmonisation to other authorities and departments that are responsible for traffic management, noise pollution, quality of roads, quality of air and any other aspects that have a bearing on the quality of our lives within our homes.

In this process it is imperative that the work carried out by wardens would be at the service of the community and far removed from the perception that such activity is there to generate inflows. Having said this, we as residents will need to observe the rules.

The local council concept is the vehicle that can realise a vision for a harmonised urban environment that renders justice to a modern society at the heart of the European Union. I know that the resources are there.

The potential is there. It is primarily a matter of sharpening the service of each provider, and to bring each provider working in tandem with the rest.

I am totally convinced that together we shall succeed.