Elizabeth Ellul will not be keeping her post as Chairperson of the PA’s Planning Commission on ODZ.
The news, first broken by Lovin Malta, was also confirmed by sources of this newsroom.
Ellul was recently in the news after she failed to declare her conflict of interest when the commission approved plans, by Gozitan construction magnate Joseph Portelli, to build a villa on agricultural land in Qala.
Her husband is the architect responsible for another project being developed by Portelli – the CryptoTower in Paceville.
Ellul has often been criticized by environmental NGOs over controversial ODZ permits that were approved by the commission.
It is understood that, while Ellul will not retain her role as Chairperson of the Planning Commission – Outside Development Zone and Urban Conservation Areas, she will still remain at the PA.
Ellul is also a member of the authority’s Planning Board and Executive Council.
The planning and environment portfolios were recently brought back under one ministry, headed by Aaron Farrugia. The change was made as part of a Cabinet reshuffle following Robert Abela’s swearing in as Prime Minister. A few months earlier, Johann Buttigieg resigned as PA CEO, taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Tourism Authority.