Cyprus Mail 27 March 2025 - by Charalambos Stylianou
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou called on Thursday for the acceleration of local government reforms, stressing the need for closer monitoring and swift action on key issues affecting communities. His remarks came during a meeting in Mesogi with local representatives and public service officials.
The minister reviewed progress since the last meeting six months ago and addressed emerging challenges.
“Our goal is to assess the implementation of previously agreed measures, ensure they are moving forward, and identify any new problems faced by communities,” he told reporters.
One of the primary concerns raised by local leaders was the delay in updating zoning regulations and publishing the local plan. In response, Ioannou dismissed claims of unnecessary delays, explaining that the process requires extensive work.
“This is a massive undertaking. The first phase, the policy declaration for rural planning zones, began in September 2023. It takes at least three years to complete because it involves evaluating dozens of communities and areas, requiring input from multiple government departments,” he explained.
Ioannou assured that the zoning updates would be announced by October.
“Once the first phase is completed, we will begin processing applications for the second phase, covering the remaining communities,” he added.
Addressing broader regional concerns, the minister said the main challenges identified in recent meetings include the registration of rural roads and the acceleration of urban development projects.
He also discussed the differences in services between communities incorporated into municipalities and those grouped into service clusters under the ongoing local government reform. He defended the cluster system, saying it was designed to provide equal access to essential services.
“Previously, each community operated independently, but now they are part of a larger cluster. These clusters will be staffed with personnel funded by the state, including administrative and health service staff, ensuring they receive services they lacked due to their small size,” he said.
Ioannou noted that 26 out of 30 service clusters had submitted staffing plans, with the remaining ones expected to follow soon. He emphasised that the speed of implementation depends on the clusters themselves.
Another pressing issue is the approval of staffing positions for these clusters.
“We have submitted a bill to the House since January to unfreeze these positions. I hope the discussion moves forward next week. Otherwise, delays in hiring will slow down the reform process,” he warned.
The local government reform aims to improve efficiency and streamline services, but its success depends on timely legislative approvals and cooperation between local authorities and the government.
