Standards of service

Formulation and approval of development plans (local plans, subject plans, action plans and development brief):

• Before undertaking the formulation or review of development plans, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority shall give due notice to the public about the matters it intends to consider in this process and give sufficient time for the public to make its contribution to the process.

• During the formulation of a plan Mepa will consult on a continuous basis with relevant local councils allowing a reasonable time for the councils to provide feedback.

• Apart from its own public participation exercise, the Authority will provide support to relevant local councils who wish to organise public meetings or other public event on any plan being formulated by Mepa.

• Mepa will provide in Maltese and English executive summaries of any plans submitted for public consultation and of finalised plans.

• Proposed development plans will be widely publicised and the public given enough time to comment, if necessary beyond the statutory six-week period allowed by legislation, if this is considered appropriate when the consultation is with reference to extensive documentation. Such extended periods of consultation will be notified in the press.

• A planning officer will be available, in official working hours during the period of formal consultation process to assist the public in submitting its views on a draft plan.

• The Authority will consider all submissions made in writing by the public, local councils and other interested agencies. Amendments to the draft plan will be made where appropriate. Submissions will be acknowledged. Where practical we will reply to any submissions and we shall publish summaries of all submissions together with our comments with the final approval of the plan giving reasons why a particular submission did justify/not justify an amendment to the plan.

• The Authority will hold informal discussions with objectors in order to resolve the objection if the matter under consideration merits this.

• Copies of draft plans will be deposited in the offices of local councils and public libraries; and will also be made available for purchase at a reasonable price.