PN want green NGOs, Opposition represented on new planning council

Environmental NGOs and the Opposition leader should get to appoint representatives to an executive council within a proposed new planning authority, Opposition MP Ryan Callus proposed.

“The executive council will get to take important policy decisions, such as on fireworks factories and potential changes to ODZ laws,” Callus said during a parliamentary committee debate on the proposed separation of MEPA’s planning and environment arms.  “It is not enough for green NGOs to simply be consulted on these policies, but they should also be allowed a vote within the executive council.”

Through the proposed demerger, the current MEPA board will be split into two entities – an executive council that will be tasked with formulating policies, and a planning board that will debate whether planning permits should be issued or not. While the Opposition and environmental NGOs will be represented on the planning board, the five members of the executive council will all be government-appointed. 

However, Callus said that three new members should be added to the council – two of which will be appointed by green NGOs and one of which will be appointed by the Opposition.

He questioned why green NGOs will be represented on the executive council within the new Environmental Authority, but not within that of the new Planning Authority.

Newly-independent MP Marlene Farrugia backed these proposals – warning the current proposal risks concentrating power into a single entity that will be wholly controlled by government. 

Planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon dismissed these concerns – insisting that is enough for the Opposition and green NGOs to be represented on the planning board. Moreover, he said that every policy drafted within the executive council will be discussed within the parliamentary environment standing committee.

He hailed the decision to split the MEPA board into an executive council and a planning board as a “step towards the separation of powers”.

However, Callus retorted that power won’t be separated under the current format, given that the chairperson and vice-chairperson within the Planning Board will also be represented on the executive council.

“We agree with the separation of power, but it should be separated for everyone or for nobody,” he said, insisting that the chairperson and vice-chairperson should not get to sit on both boards.