PN MP believes time has come to devolve more powers to local councils
PN Spokesperson for local councils ROBERT CUTAJAR told Kevin Schembri Orland that providing more funds to local councils would mean more accountability. During the interview, Cutajar answered questions about the PN’s recent proposals for local council ref
PN Whip Robert Cutajar believes that the time has come to devolve some powers to local councils.
Recently, Cutajar who is also the party’s spokesperson for local councils, communities and EU Funds, presented the party’s 80 proposals for local council reforms.
During an interview with The Malta Independent, he was asked whether the idea for the proposals was for councils to take away some of the government’s powers.
“The idea behind the creation of local councils 25 years ago was decentralisation of power, giving powers to local councils.”
He explained that when one lives in the environment they are taking a decision about, then that would lead to the best possible decision being taken.
The bottom-line of this document is to give more power to local councils, he said. “We believe councils can serve the people better. As the title of the document reads: ‘local councils that serve you better.’
“And yes why not, I think the time has come for government to continue to devolve more powers as if we do not give more powers to the local councils then I think we would fail in upholding the main thought process behind their point of departure 25 years ago.”
The proposal document issued by the PN is based on five principles: Social issues; security; cooperation between councils; public financial investment in localities; effective and efficient administration. PN MP Robert Cutajar stressed on the relevance of local councils, and urged government to take note of these proposals.
What brought around the need for local council reforms?
“This is something that needs to keep being renewed. If we cut off from the real needs of the people then we would fail. When the local councils were set up 25 years ago it was a step in the right direction. It was seen as an experiment back then, but today, 25 years later, it is seen a good experience which left positive results.
“Are we better off in our localities than 25 years ago? Yes. Has enough been done? It’s an obvious answer, that it is never enough. This is not the first reform to occur, and there were two in the past, but it is good to look at how one can improve their operations. We believe, as the Opposition, that we must not just criticise and await government to issue proposals. The Opposition is proactive. Before government issued its white paper we presented our 80 proposal document. We believe our 80 proposals are feasible and are a change in the way local councils work.”
The proposals mention the involvement of local councils in social issues, such as youths, integration etc. What kind of policies do you envisage local councils being able to enact through your proposals, and where does one draw the line as to what local councils should handle, and what should be handled by government?
“The social sector, and I am appealing to government here, must be the main keystone in the framework government intends to take in terms of local council reforms. The social aspect is what affects people the most. The point of departure, we believe, is for every locality to have a social impact assessment conducted.
“I have eight years’ experience in local councils, so I believe in what we are saying and it is doable. The PN is not proposing a national social impact assessment, but rather for such an assessment to be conducted in each locality.
“Government should help the councils conduct the assessments to see what the problems are in every locality. The challenges faced in Valletta, for example, are not the same challenges faced by Mdina. This is crucial if we do not want this reform to just be cosmetic. Social impact assessments will create a picture as to where every locality in our country stands. When the councils would have the assessment and the means, they can then plan ahead and have a vision for the decisions needed in their locality. How much better would it be if every council in Malta would be able to concretely know the social problems and challenges faced by residents in their locality? We would have councils that could truly make a difference in people’s lives with this document.
“I don’t want councils to just remain talking about street lights, roads and pavements in 25 yearstime. While they are important we want them to expand their remit. We’ve identified a number f issues related to youths, minors, at risk of poverty etc.
“In addition, why shouldn’t every local council have a night shelter? Currently only a few have… When I was Mellieha Mayor it worked. Then why shouldn’t we extend it to every locality? Government has to help local councils, and we have proposals for new financial formulas for councils, without increasing taxes.
“The Floriana Mayor recently told me their budget is €300,000, and with that they have to pay staff, contractors for services etc.
“How can a locality like the Floriana council, with around €200,000 when you subtract wages, really take decisions in the interest of residents? The social aspect must be the main focus of reform, but we also cannot leave out security and financing.”
What changes do you propose in terms of funding reforms?
“We mentioned three examples
in our proposals, without adding any tax for residents and communities.
“We are saying that part of the VAT paid remain in that community where the commercial operation operates. Valletta has X amount in terms of Business community, while Hal Safi would have Y amount, so it is fair.
“In addition, why isn’t a percentage of the amount paid in terms of trading licences and permits for tables and chairs kept in that locality’s council? For example in Cyprus, a town which Mellieha was twinned with when I was a Mayor, saw a large part of the amount paid for permits regarding tables and chairs, deckchairs, umbrella’s on their beaches remain in the locality.
“If a tourist pays 50c per night in terms of the bed tax, using the bins in the street etc. then why not keep part of the amount, or all of it, in the locality? The weight is on the locality. It would be fine to ring-fence it and specify that those funds can only be spent on a particular sector for example.
“There needs to be a radical change in terms of how the current formula for local council funds works. It cannot remain a one-sized fits all formula - the sheer amount of people who enter Valletta daily, the offices there for example.
“Let’s sit down, consult and see how we can improve things making it tailor made for each locality. The time has come to sit down and work it out according The social aspect must be the main focus of reform, but we also cannot leave out security and financing. to the needs of the localities. So are we going to compare a small locality with St Julian’s or Valletta?
“The realities of every locality must reflect the amount of funds they receive. It should not just be based on population and locality size. We must look at the bays for example, as the amount of people who visit those bays are not in the calculations.”
The National Audit Office has had issues with some councils in the past. As an example, in the December 2017 report, the NAO noted that three local councils and one regional committee had not submitted their audited financial statements by the deadline. Should there be further oversite if we are going to give councils more funding?
“More funding means more responsibility, which means more accountability. In no way do we tolerate any lack of discipline, disorganisation or abuse. Whoever abuses their finances must pay. Those funds belong to the people.
“Just because there were a few councils in certain situations however, we must not throw everyone into the same box. We would never tolerate unnecessary spending which goes against financial regulations.
“Accountability would increase and for every one cent spent the council must be capable of answering for it.
“God forbid there would be someone, just because we would give the councils more responsibility and financing, who fails in their responsibility or would be negligent. That is not acceptable.”
Some of your proposals seem costly and not easily doable. You call for a police station in each locality, and that they remain open 24/7, also the idea of officers being near-permanently allocated to localities. The issue of police manpower also emerges.
“There are enough officers, but an amount of them are drivers, work in offices, work in the maintenance garage etc. If one looks at the amount of police brought into the force over the past years… this is not about cost. We are speaking about security, which is the main concern of the Maltese people.
“I didn’t wake up one morning and write down this proposal. I spoke to experts, who are in the police force however I have pledged that they will remain anonymous. These are active members of the force, and former members as well.
“It is not acceptable that in 2018, we do not have a station in every locality. This is not a question of money, people’s security must be a priority.
“There are also stations in localities which would be closed for 8 – 10 hours a day. This is not acceptable for the PN.
“Community policing will help bridge the respect and trust between the community and the police to reduce criminality. Today you rarely see police officers on the beat. You have officers who spend a month in a locality and are then moved for example.
“This is a problem with the leadership of the police. If the people running the force do not understand that in Malta we need to actuate community policing then we will have a problem.
“On another note, how can we have a locality divided under different police districts? For example, if there is an accident in Ghajn Tuffieha - which falls under Mellieha in terms of local councils - and you go to the Mellieha station, they would tell you to go to Mosta to file a report. Is it not possible to have the police districts in line with the local council districts?
“When school starts and ends we understand that there should be police around. But shouldn’t there be police around football nurseries? Shouldn’t there be police during Catechism lessons in every town and village? Where are the police who have been recruited and been reinstated?”