Transparency in councils: PL proposes 'residents' delegate' to oversee public procurement

Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat this morning presented the PL's electoral programme for the forthcoming local council elections, listing a number of proposals and pilot projects Labour-led councils would work on if elected.

Launching the programme, Muscat said that some of the proposals will be generic for all local councils, while others would be tailor-made for the individual locality.

"We will commit ourselves to reduce the red tape which continuously stops local councils from being close to the residents and businesses," he said. 

The electoral programme highlights an insistence on local councils to be transparent in their work, and be squarely on the side of the community as against bureacracy.

Among the proposals such as access to free Wi-Fi and improved road infrastructure, the Labour Party is also proposing a pilot project in which a separate representative of the residents, independent of those elected during the elections, would be part of the process when contracts are awarded.

"Local councils are an important aspect of democracy. We cannot ignore the reality that many feel let down by councils, irrespective of their political colour. These pilot projects will help residents regain their trust, also by being part of the public procurement process," Muscat said.

A second milestone for Labour-led councils will be that of petitions being automatically placed on top of the council's agenda. "This way we will be creating the bridge between councils, residents and NGOs and recognise their initiatives," he said, adding that the local councils would additionally insist that entities would have to consult with it first before carrying out major projects.

"We have already seen enough of projects built at the detriment of a locality where the ultimate victim is the resident," Muscat said.

Another idea proposed by the Labour Party was to have online streaming of the meetings of the local councils. "The public should be able to monitor the council's work. The time has ended for councils to take decisions without consulting with the public," Muscat said.

The Labour councils would also be paying attention to housing estates, insisting not only that the residents should take more care of their block but that government invests and improves the infrastructure and facilities of estates which are today neglected.

Other proposals include the creation of childcare centres in partnership with the private sector and an outreach programme for the elderly; increased surveillance of the locality; the fight against poverty and bullying; and initiatives to protect the environment, such as a local council generating its own electricity.

"With this programme we are sending one message: we mean business," Muscat said.