Parish councils could get more powers if the Government implements proposals contained in its recently-released sustainable development draft plan.

The document Charting Our Course: Sustaining Bermuda argues that better use could be made of parish councils and that they could be given responsibilities related to planning, social regeneration and community spaces.

The local councils have been criticised in the past for late financial reporting and for having no ?teeth?. Opposition Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley called for them to be abolished in 2003, claiming they were ineffective and another level of bureaucracy.

He said of the latest proposal: ?I do think parish councils can play a valuable part in our society but they have to be set up to work properly and function in the best way that they can.

?I want to make it clear I said they should be scrapped unless we get accountability back in. For the last number of years there has been no accountability.

?They can get right into the grassroots level. But if it?s not set up and they are not held accountable it?s just a waste of an organisation and tax payers? money and we can?t support that.?

Responsibility for parish councils lies with the Ministry of Community Affairs. Minister Dale Butler said their role had been under review for about two years.

?The stumbling block has been a person to manage them so we can bring them all up to date and try and make them as active as the Smith?s Parish Council, which has been very proactive and innovative,? he said.

?They have outlived their original purpose and need a new format so they can be the frontline investigators and (offer a) support and/or advice service for parishioners.

?Work continues but until we can be given a civil servant to help reform them they will remain where they are.?

The new report says the Government needs to make ?maximum use of parish councils as forums for community action and debate?.

It says the Department of Management Services? review of the councils is aimed at figuring out a future role for them.

?Currently there is no common focus for communities within Bermuda,? says the report.

It adds that limited human and financial resources may make it difficult to implement changes to the councils and that it may be hard to find the right balance between the responsibilities of national and local government.

Erica Smith, the Government?s director of sustainable development, said parish councils could be used to great effect because of councillors? high level of local knowledge.