We believe the Council should be transformed into an Authority.
01) Every agreement made to strip the Council of its duties and responsibilities shall be dissolved; Sovereignty/majority control over the locality shall be returned.
02) We do not exclude having public meetings once a month where residents meet with every member of the Council under one roof.
03) We can never accept that the Council remains silent or makes excuses such as "it cannot do anything" or "it is not its duty" or "it did not know anything", despite knowing through reports or phone calls from residents but still taking no action or failing to be the voice of the residents, leaving them in the dark without knowledge or answers. After all, the Council and all its Members have a duty towards those who elected them. They have the necessary contacts with the Departments and respective Public Entities at their disposal. Residents are being passed from pillar to post. Therefore, we propose and implement a "Memorandum of Understanding" between the Council and every Government Entity committed to absolute transparency.
04) It is no secret that Local Councils were stripped of their full powers by the two main political parties, and while one blames the other, neither has done right to rectify this while in Government power. We refuse to have the Local Council used as a political football or to have residents used as political leverage for the two main political parties. The Council should be returned to the citizen.
05) Every permit that is approved shall be posted on the Council's website and Facebook page. This way there is absolute transparency, and the resident knows when to report where they believe there is a law violation, and it further helps them to be able to object where they see fit.
06) No citizen was born with the law book in hand. We have always been aware that systematic abuse comes from a lack of transparency and a lack of information. Therefore, we will work to have laws related to the locality published and accessible through the Council's website and platforms.
07) A new Local Council under our leadership creates a precedent for independent candidates and independent parties to be given freedom in any election without being under the scrutiny, dictatorship or hostage of the two main political parties. This is with reference to the law that these two political parties approved to deprive Independent Candidates of their title by majority vote, to obstruct their work, deny the expression and views of their political freedom in the locality and the country. The removal of this law will give citizens full support on vital subjects that neither side wants to address or resolve. This decree of law goes against the constitution and against every right of the country and its citizens.
08) In the case of assistance to elderly residents who find themselves alone without relatives, without assistance or with mobility problems, the Council can serve as an intermediary with Government Departments.
09) While we maintain that we as a party give support for balanced commerce, we believe that the Council and every member should have no favourable preferences for the private sector; this way conflicts of personal interest are avoided. It serves only if there is any objection from the Council or from the Residents, where this must be addressed, discussed and action taken effectively and immediately. After all, there is the Chamber of Commerce and the Minister for the Economy, while today not even the Council remains for the residents. In the case of meetings requested by sectors or private entities, these meetings shall be accessible to the public via the Council's website through live and recorded broadcasts, as well as recorded as minutes for further transparency enforcement. From there, the Council acts according to the will of the residents.
10) We work to have a compensation scheme from the State/Council/Private Sector designed for cases of inconvenience to residents and for work carried out at irregular hours or in persistent irregular situations.
11) The Council employs a member to carry out inspections for every illegal activity. They shall also be appointed to report maintenance that is needed every week.
12) 'Reports & Claims Division' – Customer care 24/7 in case of reports, complaints or difficulties via phone, email address or the Council's new website.
13) We can never accept that the Local Council keeps its distance, does not respond to emails, removes Facebook Messenger, creates unnecessary bureaucracy for its residents – as has happened before. Therefore, to ensure the Local Council is truly close to the residents, we will restore these platforms, and also propose again that the Mobile App, which will be provided exclusively to every resident of the Valletta Belt, is finally implemented.
14) A section in this Mobile App will be reserved for cases and prevention of violent attacks in the streets; every girl or woman will be able to give access to her location, where the signal is sent to the police station via live location. Furthermore, an SMS number will also be created for those who do not have internet service on their mobile. From there they receive a call from a police officer and in a friendly conversation she can convey the necessary details. Both solutions can also be used in cases of domestic violence. The ideas and suggestions do not stop here but more strategies will be designed through meetings.
15) The Local Council shall have full authority to design guidelines and laws against excessive noise in every activity, both commercial and general.
16) The Local Council, like any other entity, has an important role to serve the common good of citizens, residents and visitors without any other conflict of interest. The Local Council must work to create and ensure safe and accessible pedestrian zones, free from all obstacles. These ensure the wellbeing and convenience of everyone in the community where a balance with civic sense is truly achieved.
17) At the same time, it is essential that Local Councils consider and address the needs of different community members. This includes animal welfare volunteers, various associations, feast enthusiasts, sports enthusiasts, and many other groups. Balancing these needs requires continuous engagement and a comprehensive approach that considers the interests of all stakeholders. Open channels of communication between the Council and community members are crucial to address concerns and find solutions that satisfy everyone's needs. Collaboration and cooperation foster a sense of ethics and shared responsibility that lead to a more harmonious and inclusive community.
18) The Council pledges commitment to community members. It commits to conducting surveys and working to obtain feedback from different groups so that the needs and wishes of residents are established. They can then work towards the creation of inclusive spaces that accommodate diverse activities and interests while honouring safety and accessibility. The Council also pledges to be there to protect the identity, traditions and customs of the Belt residents such as religious events.
19) It is important that local Councils regularly review and update their infrastructure to adapt to changing circumstances and emerging needs. This ensures they remain responsive to the evolving requirements of their respective communities, including language inclusion and sign language interpreters. In every aspect of the Council, there shall be a service included for persons with hearing and visual impairments. This way the Council becomes truly inclusive. Among other proposals, the Council will be committed to providing a system for visually impaired persons that is easily accessible. With this system, these persons will be notified of any street changes and passage alterations caused by events within the locality.
20) Community Associations (Sports, Religious, Non-Governmental, Social) should be given the necessary assistance so as to avoid the bureaucratic system that as voluntary associations they face - this can be done by the Council stepping in as applicant for them with the help of legal aspects via the legal assistant that every Local Council has at their disposal. Including the fact that the Council should do all this as a party under Local Governance so that every community association is allocated a public building.
*Every proposal will be solidified and improved once the Council, under our leadership, convenes public meetings with the residents.
