An investigation of local councils funding schemes launched between 2008 and 2013

Abstract

In a letter dated 25 March 2015, the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government and the Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry, invoked the legal rights emanating from their responsibilities as Minister and Parliamentary Secretary responsible for local government, and requested the Auditor General to investigate operational aspects of local councils (LC) funding schemes launched during the previous legislature. The schemes were undertaken between 2008 and 2013. The National Audit Office (NAO) was requested to examine the implementation of the various schemes, aimed at assisting LCs in carrying out diverse initiatives in their locality. This Office was to establish whether the processes applied, the structures of government utilised and the administrative decisions taken were in line with the expected principles of good governance and transparency. Aside from the Minister for Justice, in his role as minister responsible for local government and as member on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the Parliamentary Secretary within his Ministry, the two other Government Members of Parliament (MPs) on the PAC endorsed the request. The request put to the NAO was dual. First, this Office was requested to investigate grants made to LCs for the resurfacing of residential roads through public-private partnership (PPP) agreements. This scheme was launched by the Office of the Prime Minister through Memo 45/2010 on 22 March 2010. Second, a list of 44 funding schemes that were undertaken between 2008 and March 2013, and the respective appropriated amounts, was forwarded with the request. The various schemes, listed according to the year of issue, were also to be reviewed by the NAO.