Local Government - Office of the Director General
Principle, Accounts Unit - Ms Astrid Pell
Legal Officer, Legal Unit - Dr. Mariella Silvio
Head EU and International Affairs Unit - Mr Robert Tabone
Local Government - Monitoring and Support
Director - Mr Christopher Galea
Assistant Director - Mr Vincent Vella
Head, HR Unit - Ms Bernice Seychell
Head, Customer Support Unit - Mr Duncan Busuttil
Local Government - Strategy and Policy Implementation
Director - Ms Marisa Pisani
Assistant Director - Mr Simon Agius
Senior Manager - Ms Dorianne Diacono
Officer in charge Schemes & Admin. Public Property - Ms Dorianne Diacono
Local Government - Finance and Procurement Compliance
Director - Ms Clare Bugeja
Objectives and Responsabilities
The Local Government Division was set up in January 2017 as part of the Local Government Reform. The divisional set-up incorporates an office of the Director General and two directorates: the Department for Local Government Monitoring and Support (formerly known as the Department for Local Government) and the Directorate for Local Government Strategy and Policy Implementation.
The Local Government Division, through the Office of the Director General and the two directorates has the following objectives:
Monitoring
To supervise the functions and operations of the local authorities (Regional Committees and Local Councils), in particular with respect to expenditure in order to ensure adherence to legislation.
Advisory role to the ministry
The Division has an advisory role to the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary and the Permanent Secretary on all issues related to local government, including advice on legislation, policies and procedures. The Division also gives advice on issues of an EU or international dimension, including the areas related to the Committee of the Regions (EU), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (Council of Europe) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).
Guidance and Support
The Division, through its two directorates, provides guidance and support to local government, including through the issue of Directives and Circulars for the effective and efficient functioning and operations as well as to ensure uniformity of application and implementation of legislation and procedures. Guidance and support is also given to local authorities with respect to EU Programmes, including the provision of information seminars and project application stage.
Coordination
The Division also ensures that there is co-ordination of all initiatives by other ministries and departments that directly or indirectly affect the functions and operations of local authorities.
Training and Personal Development
Through the Department for Local Government Monitoring & Support, local authorities’ political and executive officials are given training and information seminars on a regular basis. This includes training to Executive Secretaries and staff on new legislation and procedures.
Strategic Direction
The Division senior management participate in the Minister’s and Parliamentary Secretary’s Strategic Meetings and therefore actively contribute towards the formulation of new local government legislative proposals and policies.
Programme Implementation
The Division, through the Directorate for Local Government Strategy and Programme Implementation, implements initiatives and programmes that are devised by the ministry and/or the Parliamentary Secretariat, such as Grant Schemes. The Directorate is also responsible for research and innovation and to assist in the decentralization processes.