Newly-elected Valletta mayor, 29-year-old Alexiei Dingli, yesterday presented his councillors with a draft document on his vision for Valletta by 2015.

Dr Dingli, who is a University lecturer in ICT, said he will be meeting the councillors individually next week before launching a consultation process involving stakeholders and residents to come up with a joint vision.

He told The Times yesterday that the year 2015 was chosen for two reasons: the Prime Minister wanted Malta to excel in a number of areas by 2015 and, more importantly, it was also the year when the 250th anniversary of Valletta's foundation would be celebrated. Only three years later, Valletta would again be European cultural capital so the council also had to be prepared for that occasion.

Dr Dingli said that in his document he was highlighting 10 priority areas, namely, children and youth; families; the elderly, who form 45 per cent of the population in Valletta; the marginalised; the regeneration of the city; health; the environment, including alternative sources of energy; the community aspect; the cultural aspect; and tourism.

Another facet, which had to be considered, was the European dimension of Valletta.

Dr Dingli was elected mayor on Tuesday after Paul Borg Olivier resigned following his appointment as general secretary of the Nationalist Party. Dr Dingli was elected councillor in 2005 and has served as deputy mayor.