Local councils should receive at least part of the revenue from VAT and permits charged in their localities, the Nationalist Party said on Wednesday.
Robert Cutajar, the shadow minister for local councils, told a press conference that while the government should continue to make financial allocations to the councils, local councils should also be able to receive the tax revenue, or part of the revenue, charged to businesses within their localities, such as revenue from business licences, the hotels bed nights tax and the permits for tables and chairs.
No local taxes should be imposed, he stressed.
In its proposals the PN is calling for a review of the funding formula for the councils, including the creation of a special fund to cover particular one-off needs.
It is also calling for changes in the way councils are administered. One of the proposals is for councillors who are in a minority of one to still be able to present motions before the council, without needing a seconder.
Mr Cutajar underscored the PN's continued opposition to the new system which sees local wardens administered by a government agency, LESA. He said councillors were clearly of the view that the former system (where councils had direct control) was the better one.
The PN local councils review document contains 80 reform proposals.
It says that regional committees should also be responsible for arterial roads that are currently controlled by central government.
The PN is also proposing the creation of a regional council, made up of presidents of the region and that should be led by the president of the local councils association.
The regional council should be the forum where people come together "to secure better co-ordination within the region.”
Turning to code of ethics, Director for PN local council Charles Bonello said the code of ethics should be enshrined in the Local Councils Act so as to ensure that it is strictly abided to.
The document seeks to strengthen the idea that local councils are there to serve residents, he said.
Mr Cutajar said that his experience in local councils showed him bureaucratic elements which the council found difficult to overcome.
“For example, people wake up to works outside their doorstep and the local council would be caught unawares,” he said. The document therefore proposes the introduction of a member that coordinate works with both government entities and with commercial entities.