Malta Chamber of Planners has new committee

At a recent Malta Chamber of Planners (MaCP) annual general meeting, a new committee was elected. Bjorn Bonello was elected president, together with Dr Paul Gauci, vice-president, Anthony Ellul, general secretary, Christopher Attard, PRO, René Attard, treasurer, and Joe Zahra, member.

The new council is determined to accomplish three key goals during the coming term. Firstly, to push further the issue of recognition of qualified planners, which still remains unsettled, despite strenuous efforts by the chamber, which have always been met by an apparent reluctance on the government's part.

Since its setting up in 1997, the MaCP has pursued official recognition of planners by Government and repeatedly made formal requests for a Planners Profession and Professional Ethics Legislation to be approved.

On a number of occasions the chamber voiced its concern that unqualified individuals have dominated the planning scene without the necessary core training. In his address to the members present, Mr Bonello said "the need for professional planners at all levels of the executive dealing with spatial planning both on MEPA's and government side is becoming increasingly evident, as the past three years have been marked by the spawning of a plethora of planning policies and decisions that leave much to be desired in terms of democracy and transparency".

Despite the public outcry for sustainable planning and notwithstanding recognition from the European Council of Town Planners (ECTP) and Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), of which MaCP is an active member, the Maltese Government has continued to procrastinate on this issue and has to date not recognised MaCP and its members.

Qualified planners cannot fully exercise their profession, hindered by legislation that is favouring the current precarious situation. This is resulting in a reactive, disjointed approach, with speculative commercial lobbies indiscriminately overriding social and environmental issues, and questionable decisions tarnishing planners' reputation even though in reality it is non-qualified people, posing as planners, doing planning work.

Secondly, the chamber believes that planners should be at the forefront to promote their own profession in conveying environmental and socio-economic principles which support vibrant communities and secure a future for our children.

The essence of planning, which originally set out to create a visionary Utopian world, is about achieving a balance between competing uses and securing economic prosperity.

"Our role is to deliver two principles - subsidiarity and sustainability. The first is about giving power (vis-à-vis planning decisions and policies) back to the people through heavier involvement of local governance and enhanced democratic processes, such as credible public consultation. The second is that of ensuring that we meet today's needs without adversely affecting the needs of future generations.

Thus, spatial planning and planning policies cannot be held hostage by short-term money-making schemes, widespread nepotism or quixotic (idealistic yet impracticable) strategies."

The third and final goal is to bring forth a culture change in the planning field. "There is a need to mature as a people and accept criticism without entrenching ourselves in defensive positions, often resorting to belligerent mudslinging or damaging feuds, which can have serious career repercussions.

Notwithstanding all this, the MaCP is determined not to remain silent and passive but, through discussions with MEPA and Government, endeavour to help alleviate organisational shortcomings and simplify the planning process, in a way that future policies promote and not discourage investment, best practice and sustainable development. The MaCP will seek to take a leading role in the review of emerging policy."

In the coming months, the chamber will be undertaking an intense round of meetings with all the relevant entities and organisations to convey its policy objectives and promote the planning profession as a creative, inclusive and transparent tool, making sure there is an understanding of the planners' role.

The chamber can be contacted by mail at 9, Vilhena Street, Floriana, or by e-maili: aellul@keyworld.net.