At a time when residents’ complaints about traffic, construction and safety are increasing, the effectiveness of the country’s only elected government body appears to be falling.

That seems to be the conclusion of a new report produced by the general secretariat of the Central Municipal Council, which found that only one-third of some 111 recommendations made during the council’s last session were acknowledged by authorities.

The CMC is directly elected by the local population every four years, but it lacks legislative authority, and is tasked mostly with an “advisory and monitoring” role.

According to its website:

The 29 members of the Council focus their attention on providing the compelling needs of the society and securing the basic services with a view to rationalize spending.

They do that through a well-defined plan and good coordination of time, effort and resources, and through giving priority to projects like road building, sanitary drainage, parks and recreation sites.

The CMC made several recommendations in this vein over the past session, and expects to issue a record-breaking 200 recommendations during its fourth term, the Peninsula reports. It continues:

The recommendations include issues important to the citizens and expatriates, like price hikes, absconding domestic helpers, used car showrooms, manpower agencies and shortage of parking spaces among others.

People wonder what the special committees set up at several ministries to coordinate with CMC are doing, Al Sharq reports.

Have you turned to the CMC for help before? Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Krissy Venosdale