Buontempo dissatisfied with NAO report on shortcomings of local councils

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Stefan Buontempo said he was not satisfied with the findings of the National Auditors Office regarding the workings of local councils.

Buontempo was addressing a conference which concluded a project aimed at training Executive Secretaries of the Regional Committee.

He said the Government is investing in the executive secretaries that, as executive and financial leaders of the local councils, should make it a point to do better work after the NAO’s report found a number of irregularities during the year 2014.

The Parliamentary Secretary made it very clear that he was not satisfied with the findings of this report, which found lacking accountability and administrative operations in local councils.

The NAO report found that 31 local councils were not able to present fiscal receipts for more than €380,000 worth of payments. Buontempo mentioned the un-audited accounts, expired contracts and the issuing of direct orders without necessity.

“I am willing to take all the necessary legal action to ensure that local councils are managed in a just way, according to standards one must abide with in the public administration,” he added.

He reminded the important role of the executive secretaries, which are considered the fulcrum of the system, which provides for a transparent administration.