The Local Councils Association organised its annual plenary with the theme ‘ Reshape, Restructure, Realign’, which brought together mayors, regional presidents and local councillors from Malta and Gozo. During the plenary, a number of proposals aimed at strengthening local government were discussed and approved, with an emphasis on initiatives that can be implemented directly by the local government sector.
The proposals were discussed in five thematic workshops that focused on training and capacity development, transparency, effective resident participation, the use of data in decision-making and digital integration, with the aim of continuing to build a more modern, efficient and resident-centric local government.
Minister for Local Government and Public Works Alison Zerafa Civelli said that this year’s theme reflects the changes that communities are experiencing and the need for local government to continue to evolve. “Our communities are changing, the challenges are evolving, and therefore the way we work must continue to update it to continue to serve residents in the best possible way,” the minister said.
She stressed that local councils remain the first point of contact between the citizen and the State, and therefore the Government will continue to strengthen them. “Our vision is clear: to give local councils the tools, resources and support necessary to enable them to carry out their responsibilities more efficiently. This means investing in people, technology and processes that make a difference,” said the minister.
President of the Association of Local Councils Mario Fava said that, “The approval of the proposals put forward during the plenary shows their determination to move from words to action. The priority now is implementation, with an emphasis on stronger, resident-centred local governance. ‘Residents First’ remains the guiding principle for the vision for the future of local government in Malta and Gozo.”
Photos (MLGP)
