Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling last night expressed his disappointment at new legislation that provides Government with more power over the municipalities.

Mr Gosling said that the new Municipalities Amendment Act 2015 effectively demoted the corporation from running the City to becoming a Government advisory body.

The Act was passed on Friday after a heated debate with Opposition MPs saying that the new legislation would create “a mockery of a democracy” in which elected officials would not be able to make their own decisions.

Mr Gosling told his colleagues at a meeting at City Hall last night that the onus was on the new council to show that the Corporation could still play an important role. “I have made my feelings clear on how I viewed the new legislation,” he said.

“I cannot say that I am in any way anything but disappointed that this Act has gone through, although I certainly see the pragmatism behind it.

“We made a resolution at the last council meeting forming a committee to draw up of legislative recommendations for the Minister to contemplate. It is very much on our part to show citizens of the capital and the Island that there is a need for a municipality such as us to continue in existence.”

On Friday in the House of Assembly Sylvan Richards, the Junior Minister of Home Affairs, had previously cited “bad apples” in the former Hamilton administration as justification for the new Bill.

He said the Government’s hand had been forced on the issue, but added that it was in the Island’s national interest.

The amended Act allows the minister to assume control of the finances of either corporation if he believes they are being mismanaged, or control of the corporations entirely if he believes they are being mismanaged. The minister is also empowered to give written directions to a corporation, including orders for it to discontinue or restrict activities, and may delegate powers to a representative.

At last night’s meeting at City Hall Councillor Nick Swan said: “We need to move forward in our relationship with Government and prove we are capable of looking after our own affairs and wrest some of that autonomy back.”