Use Govt funds prudently, councils told

LOCAL authorities have been challenged to emulate the Livingstone City Council (LCC) in the prudent utilisation of the Local Government Equalisation Fund.

Local Government Minister, Charles Banda, said Government expected councils to use 20 per cent of equalization on capital projects.

The minister was speaking when he inspected the newly constructed fire officers’ dormitories on Tuesday.

Dr Banda was happy that the local authority in Livingstone had come up with such an initiative, using the Local Authority Equalisation Fund.

“I am very happy to be at your station and see to it that you’re very healthy and apart from that, to see to it that the Livingstone City Council are doing everything possible to make your stay in your work comfortable.

“That is a very commendable job that the Livingstone

City Council has done especially that they have been able to put up a structure like that, furnish it in the manner they have done and they continue to do up to the completion utilizing the equalization fund, the much talked about equalization fund,” he said.

Dr Banda said the council was not only beautifying the place but making work easy for officers.

“This is the way to go. When we say we give equalization fund to local authorities and that they should utilize 20 per cent on capital projects, we expect things like that and we would like to encourage the Livingstone City Council to continue doing more with the little which they receive,” Dr Banda said.

“...so kudos should go to the town clerk, management for a job well done. Don’t stop here, continue doing whatever you can,” he said.

He urged the local authority to make it a model for fire stations in the country.