Opposition 'willing' to collaborate with government on local governance issues

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has expressed the Nationalist Party's willingness to work hand in hand with the government in devising a way forward for local councils.

Addressing a conference organised by the PN marking the 20^th anniversary since the inception of local councils, Busuttil said the PN would be putting forward its proposals to "enrich the local government system".

"We will contribute to this discussion and will be positive. Both political parties agree on consensus. We will forward constructive criticism and new ideas that will enrich the local government system," he said.

He welcomed legal amendment presented in parliament last Wednesday, set to allow 16-year-olds to vote in local councils elections.

The Opposition leader however criticised a government proposal to postpone this legislature's local councils elections and insisted that the PN will not accept.

Busuttil also criticised the €1.7 million cuts in local councils funds. According to the PN, next year's budget has decreased local councils' funds by €500,000 and further cuts were made to a special fund which is used by councils for special initiatives, road works, payments to WasteServ and EU funded projects. 

Present for the conference was also parliamentary Secretary for local councils Josè Herrera, who said the government was committed to device the best way forward.

Meanwhile, the government has already committed itself to seeing local councils adopting fiscal autonomy.

Herrera has explained that, according to EU countries, Malta's local government system lacked a shared revenue concept.

The government will soon publish the white paper on local enforcement that would provide proposals for a radical reform in this sector, Herrera said.