‘Local councils’ demands falling on deaf ears’ – Stefan Buontempo

"Demands by local councils to the central government for the allocation of more funds to cope with the ever-increasing responsibilities and challenges are falling on deaf ears," Stefan Buontempo, PL spokesman for local councils, said today in a press conference held this morning at the Labour Party headquarters in Hamrun.

Buontempo said the government was putting local councils in a bad light and the central government was hiding behind the local councils. "It's the responsibility of the central government to allocate the necessary funds and assist the councils to help execute jobs and attend to residents' wishes.

"Local councils have simply become an extension of a government department and government is constantly increasing the responsibilities of local councils without giving them the adequate tools and assistance.

"Instead of increasing the council's funds, one of the government's recent measures was to decrease their funds," Buontempo said.

According to Buontempo, a number of mayors and councillors have expressed their disappointment at government for ignoring their constant calls for an increase in funds to cope with the rise in costs of water and electricity, construction material, waste separation, waste collection and bulky refuse fees, and the constant rise in fuel.

He added that waste recycling tipping fees by Wasteserv had increased drastically from 50 euro cents per ton to 20 euros per ton.

Buontempo said that local councils invested money in projects with the hope of gaining EU funds, but government’s decision to stop the co-financing fund has led to the termination of such projects.