Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Fit for the future: capacity and resources for effective local government

CLGF Blog by Dr Marc Sant, President, Local Councils Association of Malta and CLGF Board member

September 2016



Having adequate resources and capacity is critical for local government to deliver local needs and priorities whilst cultivating its role in helping to respond to national, regional and global targets – including the recently agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  However, the reality is that very often local government is inadequately funded and lacks the capacity not only to deliver services efficiently but also to respond to these ‘unfunded mandates’ as a community leader and driver of development locally.
 

This is felt more acutely particularly in smaller states, which make up around two-thirds of all Commonwealth countries.  In Malta, where we have a population of around 420,000, on paper we have a strong system of local government backed by local government being enshrined in the Constitution.  The main functions of local government revolve around refuse collection and disposal, the general upkeep of localities, the promotion of culture and sports and the dissemination of information to citizens.  In 316km² we have a total of 5 Regional Committees and 68 local councils (54 in Malta and 14 in Gozo).
 

Over the last two decades there has been a very gradual decentralisation of powers and services but essentially all funding for local councils is still handed down by central government.  Local councils are specifically precluded from raising any local taxes, meaning that financial constraints lead them to often trying to be innovative in the ways they respond to wider community needs, including successfully accessing European regional funds. 
 

Malta will be hosting CLGF’s next Commonwealth Local Government Conference in November 2017 and the theme chosen for this conference is – Fit for the future: capacity and resourcing for effective local government.  We will hear from governments and councils from across the Commonwealth on how councils can work smarter to use resources better, innovations for financing infrastructure or other big development projects, and generating local revenue not only through tax but also other possible sources.  We will be looking at innovations such as SMART cities, green funding, social enterprise, infrastructure funding, integrated development planning and development finance, local economic development, urbanisation, and partnership working – including with the private sector.
 

I trust that my colleagues and I will be able to welcome you to Malta to be part of these discussions, to share some of the work that councils are doing in Malta and the wider Commonwealth to help us all improve our game at the local level.  You will be able to experience the charm and vibrancy of our historic capital city Valletta and enjoy the Mediterranean culture and cuisine whilst appreciating the hospitality of the Maltese people.  I have been told that this will be the first time that this conference has been held in the Mediterranean and in such a historic setting, so I hope that you will seize the opportunity to attend and experience this for yourselves.
 

We are currently developing the programme and plans for the event.  Further details and registration will shortly be available through the conference website www.clgc2017.org.  If you want to register your interest, please email us on clgc2017@clgf.org.uk.  I look forward to seeing you in Valletta in 2017.

 

One resilient common future

  Wishing our members and partners across the Commonwealth a very happy Commonwealth Day!
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