The future of the Corporation of St George will be discussed at a public town hall meeting on Thursday.

A home affairs ministry spokeswoman said topics would include “the most appropriate way to strengthen and modernise municipal governance for the benefit of Bermuda”.

The news came after Walton Brown, the home affairs minister, tabled the Municipalities Amendment Act in March, which would defer the next municipal elections to 2019, allow public officers to attend corporation meetings and “to give directions and take stewardship or temporary control of a corporation in certain circumstances believed to be in the best interests of Bermuda”.

Mr Brown said: “Last month’s Bill essentially deferred ordinary municipal elections for a year until May 2019 while we undertake consultations with the Corporation of Hamilton and St George, and the residents and ratepayers in each municipality, which is what we are doing now.”

Mr Brown repeated that there are inconsistencies in how each corporation is structured, with one focused mainly on business and the other on residential.

He added: “One has a fairly healthy revenue stream, one is reliant on the largesse of Government. Both, however, have issues with failing infrastructure.

“Both are looking for ways to stimulate their economies in order to raise more revenue.”

Mr Brown said overseas municipalities provide social services, including housing, to their residents.

But he added: “Municipalities in Bermuda do not deliver social services and the need for social services within the municipalities is growing.

“The Government believes that the two levels of Government, national and municipal, can no longer operate in economic or decision-making silos.”

The first town hall meeting — part of the six month public consultation — will focus on the Corporation of St George, with future meetings to centre on the Corporation of Hamilton.

The main question will be what the relationship between the Corporations and the Government should be in the future.

A public policy document will be available for review and comment at the end of the consultation and before the Government makes a decision on the best municipal governance model.

Mr Brown said: “I would encourage residents with ideas, questions or concerns to attend this town hall meeting on Thursday and help us select the ideal structure of these two institutions.

“We are particularly interested in those who are service users in St George’s. We must have proper input before making a decision.”

The meeting will be held at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s from 6pm. Members of the public can also provide feedback by emailing corporationreform@gov.bm