[PIO] Minister of Interior Mr. Constantinos Ioannou had a series of regional meetings with the Communities

The second round of regional meetings of Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou with the Community Chiefs of all the Districts was completed yesterday. Mr. Ioannou held meetings with the Community Councils following the meetings he had last autumn, where the problems and outstanding issues of the Communities were recorded in view of the start of the Local Government Reform.

In the new cycle of contacts, the Minister of Interior and the Presidents of the Community Councils had the opportunity to assess the progress in resolving the issues of concern to the local communities. In addition, the Minister was briefed by the Prefects and Community Leaders on the preparation of the Communities for the transition to the new Local Government arrangements from 1 July 2024.

Mr. Ioannou noted, with satisfaction, the readiness of the 286 Communities that will make up the 30 Service Delivery Clusters (SDCs) to operate under the new framework, with proper staffing and modern procedures that will improve service to citizens. The Minister of Interior informed the local leaders about the recent decision to grant an increased state subsidy for the second half of 2024, amounting to €4.5 million, which concerned part of the state subsidy to the 63 Community Councils that will merge, as municipalities, with municipalities. At the same time, an annual state grant of €3 million was determined for the purpose of covering the salary costs of the scientific staff (secretarial, accounting, administrative, technical, etc.) that will staff the Clusters. Also discussed were the Budgetary Standards and the new Service Plans for the positions in the organizational chart of the CPCs.

As part of the meetings, Mr. Ioannou thanked the outgoing Presidents of the Community Councils for their valuable contribution to the local communities and wished good luck to those of them who are seeking re-election. Finally, he expressed the certainty that the close cooperation between the Ministry of Interior Services and the Union of Cyprus Communities will continue with the new Council of the Union, for the progress of the Communities.

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