By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
MAYOR OF Lucea and chairman of the Hanover Parish Council, Councillor Lloyd Hill, has expressed concern at the big disparity "between the amount of money it costs to finance the Council, and the income-generating capacity of the Council." The Mayor cautioned that in order to realise its full potential, the cost to finance the council would have to be reduced in order for it to meet its operational expenses and provide the basic services to the parish.
"It is true that we have more potential to earn more money, but until the problems with personnel are addressed this will not improve in any significant way, although the ministry of Local Government and the Council continue to take decisions that can make a difference," Mayor Hill told October's monthly meeting of the Hanover Parish Council, while he reviewed the January 2003 report of the Council.
The Mayor of Lucea is of the view that "the Council can respond to the challenges ahead by getting rid of the 'Dead Woods' within the Council and by ensuring that we have effective and efficient management, so that decisions taken by councillors and Council can be implemented efficiently and without delay."
REVENUE BASE
He believes one way that the Council can improve its revenue base is to engage qualified persons to manage the Council on a contractual basis. "This would ensure that the Councils are managed by persons who are sympathetic to the Local Government Reform process and are capable of working toward its success," the Mayor added. On the matter of Christmas work, the head of the Hanover Parish Council pointed out that last year during that period, the Council was able to do more work per division than most councils in the island.
The work consisted of beautifying communities and cleaning drains and providing additional during the Christmas season. "It is not impossible for our Council and other councils to succeed and function in a meaningful way, but we will have to work with the Ministry of Local Government and take some important decisions this year, that will strengthen the local authorities and enable us to move forward," noted Mayor Hill.
Turning to another matter,he expressed disappointment at the non-attendance of members of the public at Council meetings and voiced his displeasure at what he believes is the inadequate garbage collection service in the parish.
