A question of integrity

I refer to the article Conflicts Of Interest In Mepa (February 5) written by Martin Scicluna.

Mr Scicluna's article is based on the assumption that wherever there is the opportunity for wrongdoing, then wrongdoing occurs. I beg to differ. I believe that there are many people who have the integrity to avoid taking advantage of their position. This is more so for architects who are bound by a professional code of ethics and who, in extreme cases of breach of ethics, risk losing their warrant to practise.

Finding suitable persons to sit on the DCC is not an easy task. The first constraint is availability. Many, including practising architects, cannot afford to dedicate between 10 and 15 hours per week. As the minister responsible, I seek persons who can be relied upon to take decisions impartially and who will adhere to the strictest ethical standards.

Contrary to what Mr Scicluna claims, there need to be some members with good technical knowledge of planning and of architectural design on a DCC board. A board that does not have any technically competent people is the one most likely to make wrong decisions. Members are more likely to be swayed and even misled by the biased arguments put forward by the applicant and his architect. Hence the need for some of the DCC board members to be architects.

Having said that, in his 2005 report, the auditor noted that there were too many architects sitting on the DCC boards when the number was four or five out of seven. Since then the number of architect board members has been reduced to three out of seven.

It is interesting to give a few facts.

The number of applications submitted by architects who are DCC board members is estimated to be less than three per cent of the total number of development applications during 2007. The opportunity for mutual back-scratching is much less than what Mr Scicluna implies and, even if such an opportunity arises, the board members are expected to decide impartially and in an ethically correct manner.

Another interesting fact is the number of overturnings. These are applications approved by the DCC board in spite of a recommended refusal by the Planning Directorate. In 2007, 13 per cent of all applications were overturned by the DCC boards.

In the case of applications submitted by DCC board members in their private capacity (that is, the three per cent I have referred to) the number of overturnings averaged 11 per cent.

The allegations of back-scratching and breaches of ethics made by Mr Scicluna are not supported by the facts.

One architect, a former DCC board member, told me that the DCC board was doubly careful when assessing applications of architects sitting on the same board.

The board wanted to ensure it would not be seen to be biased. Probably this explains the lower number of overturnings for applications by DCC board members.

In the 10 years since I have been responsible for planning (first as parliamentary secretary and then as minister), I can say that the vast majority of past and present board members are people of integrity whom the public at large can and should trust.

One cannot exclude that there are individual instances of breach of ethics. When and where this was brought to my notice I took action. In one instance, for example, an architect who was a DCC board member acted unethically by advertising his services by means of a mailshot.

His term of office as DCC board member was not renewed. It is unfair, however, to claim widespread wrongdoing because of the solitary alleged failings of one or two members.

By way of clarification, a breach of ethics would result where a person makes use of his or her position for personal advantage. There is no breach of ethics if a conflict of interest is declared and the person withdraws from the decision-making process.

The PN in government has consistently shown a willingness to discuss the issues that concern people and to take action accordingly.

I reiterate my confidence in the integrity of board members but accept that there may be the need for further changes to address the perception of people regarding potential conflicts of interest.

Mr Pullicino is Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment.