Efficiency reports tabled in parliament put tiny Gharb at the top of the council efficiency league table, with Ta’ Xbiex – the location of choice for many embassies – languishing at the bottom.
Marsa, Valletta and Floriana – three Grand Harbour localities – also fare badly in the reports.
The reports are based on inspections conducted by the Department of Local Councils between April 2006 and March 2007.
The department’s assessment was purely limited to the physical and infrastructural aspect, thus failing to take account of other criteria such as financial responsibility, social commitment and environmental sustainability.
Councils were assessed on 20 different areas of competence ranging from the condition of pavements, traffic signs, public gardens, public toilets to the state of their urban and rural roads.
The top locality, Gharb, was given more than eight marks (out of a maximum of 10) in 13 out of 20 functions. The Gharb council was only found lacking when it came to the upkeep and conditions of its rural roads. On these two aspects, the Gozitan council was only awarded five marks.
Ta’ Xbiex was only given three marks for the upkeep of the rocky shoreline, one mark for the cleanliness of its public gardens and four marks for road sweeping services. But the council fared well as regards the condition of its roads, for which it earned eight marks.
Hamrun, Valletta, Marsa and Floriana – four localities hailing from the electoral first district – feature among the bottom five councils.
Valletta was awarded only four marks for the sweeping of roads and five marks for the state of its pavements. Public toilets in the capital city were only awarded five marks for cleanliness.
On the other hand Valletta fared well for the upkeep of its rocky shore line, parking spaces and promenades.
B’Kara – Malta’s most populous city – was awarded high marks for the condition of its pavements and urban roads. Its worst mark (one out of 10) was for the state of its rural roads.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt