Social impact assessment : Reġjun Tramuntana

Abstract

Local governance plays a key role in shaping and developing localities and in turn shaping and impacting their residents’ day-to-day lives and the quality of the lives led within such localities. Therefore, it is important that one understands the residents’ subjective perceptions with regards to their quality of life, as well as their awareness of their local governments. This also leads to better accountability of authorities and gives local governments the information and knowledge to maintain and improve their performances. In December 2022, Reġjun Tramuntana commissioned the Faculty for Social Wellbeing of the University of Malta to carry out this study in fulfilment of the requirements laid out within the Local Councils Act that tasks Regional Councils with “the social aspect, which includes researches [sic] and report of social impact evaluations, which report shall be made within the first year of each legislature” (Laws of Malta, Chapter 363, Art. 37B (B), p. 28). The study aimed to assess the Reġjun Tramuntana’s residents’ perceived quality of life, liveability and social integration of their locality and their awareness and knowledge of their local and regional councils and expectations thereof. By applying a multi-method research approach, the study sought to address the following research questions: 1. How do residents of Reġjun Tramuntana perceive their quality of life and their region’s liveability? 2. To what extent are residents’ perceptions of the functions of the regional council congruent with the regional council’s official remit? 3. What initiatives can boost the resourcefulness of regional councils in enhancing liveability? At the time of the study, Reġjun Tramuntana’s residents comprised those residing in the region’s 9 localities, namely: Ħal Balzan, Ħ’Attard, Il-Mellieħa, Il-Mosta, In-Naxxar, L-Imġarr, L-Imtarfa, San Ġwann and San Pawl Il-Baħar. As at November 2021, Reġjun Tramuntana’s total resident population stood at 519,562, 22% of which were non- Maltese. [extract]