Prime Minister meets local council representatives

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi presented the Local Councils Association with a cheque of €25,700 and a further €9,300 to the Association for Local Council Executive Secretaries (ASKLM).

The Prime Minister hosted delegations from the two associations at Castille this afternoon and held meetings with them behind closed doors, in which all parties tabled and discussed proposals.

During a short address to the press at the beginning of the two meetings, Gonzi explained that he was presenting the associations with instalments of the allocated funds approved in the last budget.

In the first meeting with the Local Councils Association, Gonzi expressed his gratitude to all local councils "of all colours".

"Today's local councils are testimony to the success of devolution and the results are tangible," Gonzi said.

He went on to mention a project led by the association which aims at promoting online services provided by government and said that the association was doing a precious job.

The Prime Minister added that in contrast with other countries such as Italy, which is in the process of dismantling certain institutions at local levels, Malta is strengthening the local level.

"We must not rest on our laurels and we must ensure that Local Councils are transparent and accountable in the same way the national government is accountable to Parliament. We must ensure that Local Councils reach higher standards."

The association's president Michael Cohen, who was last year involved in a probe by the European Commission's anti-fraud office over misappropriation of funds, thanked the Prime Minister for his backing and explained that the association's main task is to assist councils to improve the level of governance.

In the second meeting, Gonzi expressed his appreciation of the work carried out by Local Council Executive Secretaries, which he dubbed, "the council's Chief Executive Officers."

He added that the government entrusts the council secretaries with ensuring the good governance of all localities in Malta.

The association's secretary, Paul Gatt thanked the Prime Minister for the government's financial assistance and explained that the funds will be used to train members of the association. 

Gatt pointed out that the association's main aims are to maximise the resources of local councils and motivate its members to ensure that the councils achieve better results.