A restructuring exercise at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) should result in development applications being processed in a more efficient manner. The government said on Thursday that a change management team had been appointed to help Mepa processing section to be more efficient.
The changes are based on the recommendations made by the Management Efficiency Unit which conducted an in-depth study of how Mepa can improve its operations.
The first results should be seen by next March, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said.
The change management team comprises Kevin Gatt from the Management Efficiency Unit as chairman, Marika Tonna, Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja, Victor Torpiano, Chris Borg and John Ebejer.
According to the unit’s recommendations, the reforms will focus on internal methodologies and the present set up will be divided in cells.
Employees will also be given further training, the minister said.
Mr Gatt said the idea was to have a streamlined process from the current set-up to cell processing. At present, the process was characterised by files moving from one unit to another with the Planning Directorate seemingly out of control of the situation, he said.
The MEU is proposing that the Development Control Unit will be re-organised in three self-sustaining units. One would deal with applications for development in urban conservation areas and outside development zone, another would deal with applications for development within development zone and government minor projects while the third cell would deal with major projects.
Mr Gatt said each cell would be responsible for the end-to-end process of the application including validation, vetting, plotting, consultation, preparation of all necessary documentation and other related information.
Mr Pullicino said a report commissioned by the ministry showed that case officers had three times the caseload of a case officer in the United Kingdom. However, he said, processes in the UK took more time.
There are 40 case officers at Mepa.
They will be receiving on-the-job training because the report showed that six per cent of reports were “inadequate”.