Local government in Malta : an extended arm of the central government, a mirror image of the central government or a new system of public administration

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine whether local government in Malta is an extended arm of central government, or if it is a microcosm of the centralised system or if it is truly an autonomous body with its own system of public administration, being another tier of government as stated in the Maltese Constitution. The different structures and functions of local government in Western Europe as well as in other micro states within the Commonwealth will be looked at in order to focus on the sui-generis system of local government in Malta. I had to base my findings on primary sources. I distributed a questionnaire to all Local Councils and interviewed various Mayors and Executive Secretaries, the President of the Local Councils Association and the former Permanent Secretary within the Ministry responsible for local government. Local government in Malta has, for the past fifteen years evolved from limited devolved functions to an increased devolution and decentralisation process. This notwithstanding the system is still heavily centralised with strict oversight. De-bureaucratisation of services and functions which is moving at a slow pace and local autonomy exercised under strict controls tend to render local government in Malta an extended arm of central government.