Updated: PA curiously convenes on a Saturday to approve application by Prime Minister

Kevin Schembri Orland Saturday, 7 April 2018, 16:33 Last update: about 7 years ago

The Planning Authority today approved a minor application for amendments to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's Burmarrad house, curiously on a Saturday.

The application itself was, according to the application description, "to remove internal wall and insert steel beams"

The application was filed, according to the PA website, on 15 March this year. The case officer's assessment was endorsed by Johann Buttigieg himself. Buttigieg is the Executive Chairperson of the PA's Executive Council. In response to questions sent by this newsroom, the PA said that he can endorse applications.

While there was no planning board session on the agenda scheduled for today, this newsroom is informed by experts that summary decisions on small applications are normal, however they added that for such an application to be decided on a Saturday is abnormal. "Why couldn't such a small application have waited till Monday?," an expert asked.

The public application also does not contain any drawings regarding the proposals.

PA response

Questions were sent by this newsroom to the Planning Authority.

This newsroom asked the Planning Authority whether it usually works on a Saturday, why this decision was taken on a Saturday, Whether the decision was taken summarily, and whether Johann Buttigieg often endorses assessments directly.

The PA, in response, said: "kindly note that PA/02537/18 is a summary application, which applications are not decided by a commission/board in a public meeting but by the chairperson or a member of the Planning Commission."

"This is not the first application which has a decision date on a Saturday. Given that such applications are decided by the Chairperson or board member applications get decided on a Saturday too."

"All applications are signed on behalf of the Executive Chairperson and therefore the Executive Chairperson can also endorse an application. In view that the application affects the internal elements of the residence of the PM access to endorse these files is restricted to Top Management and the Executive Chairperson."