44 local councils request devolution of government property

Parliamentary Secretary for local government Stefan Buontempo said that 44 local councils had issued 62 requests for devolution of government property.

Speaking during a visit to the Old Hospital in Imqabba, Buontempo said that it is important for local councils to be sustainable, and stressed that the devolution of public property would only take place if a suitable and detailed business plan was presented by the local councils in question.

Buontempo even spoke of the importance of the restoration project on the ceiling of one of the halls, the government had funded at the hospital.

“The hall will be used by the Mqabba community and it was in a very dire state,” he said.

Buontempo said that the government had intervened straight away to help the Mqabba local council when it had asked for help, as the ceiling had been deemed dangerous by architects themselves.

“The government helped the Mqabba council because it understood the importance of this building,” he said, adding that it had served as a hospital and as a community centre, ever since the building was devolved in 2000.

He added that the building had been abandoned and also used illegally prior to the local council’s efforts to use the building as the main community hall.

“The hall is currently used fro computer courses, community meetings, exhibitions, cultural activities and council meetings among others,” Buontempo said, adding that the work that had been undertaken involved changing the wooden beams and slabs, as well as the replacement of the screed to protect the ceiling against the elements.