Internal suggestions for improvements

Mepa itself presented a series of proposals, formulated by top management officials, aimed at the improvement of the quality of service that the authority provides. In order to do so, Mepa proposed changes to three main areas: main and subsidiary legislation; the current organisational set-up; and Mepa's internal operation procedure.

The measures put forward by Mepa in respect of the aforementioned categories are summarised below:

• Setting up of an environmental and planning screening unit; an inter-departmental expert committee; a parliamentary standing committee for the environment; an aesthetics board to act as an external consultee; and the reactivation of the planning consultative committee.

• Effecting changes to the planning process including specifically the narrowing of scope of reconsiderations.

• Improving the system of notification by ensuring that a site notice is affixed and remains visible throughout the duration of the application process through monitoring by local councils; and notifications of refusals/approvals are published in the local papers, posted on the Mepa website and posted to the respective local council.

• Widening of the right to redress allowing any person to register an interest or object at any stage in the application process prior to the time of decision and to submit an appeal subject to respecting the timeframe of five working days from the publication of the decision.

• Improving access to information and public participation by increasing consultation in local plans; incorporating communications in all Mepa processes and enhancing accessibility; strengthening the communications office of the authority and training of personnel; and reinforcing the customer care function.

• Changing the current composition and functioning of the Mepa board and DCCs featuring the appointment of a full-time chairman and deputy chairman for the Mepa board and the establishment of two DCCs on a full-time basis.

• Effecting amendments to the DPA to allow for a different composition of the planning appeals boards and to cater for an extension in the citizens' right to appeal. In addition a specialised court session for planning and environment prosecution needs to be set up.

• Allowing Mepa to focus on its core functions - regulating and formulating land use and environmental plans and policies. Mepa proposes the setting up of a national enforcement agency, the devolvement of the construction site management regulations and littering regulations to local councils and the setting up of a building regulations and standards unit outside of Mepa's remit; and

• Addressing the Human Resource (HR) deficit both in terms of the number of current resources and knowledge as well as introducing the full cost recovery principle and other charging mechanisms to secure improvements in Mepa's resourcing.

The report presented by ENGOs to the Prime Minister consists of a programme of 74 measures proposing a major overhaul within the planning system. These measures propose changes to five main categories, namely the legislative framework; organisational structures; development planning procedures; enforcement regime; and role of civil society in development planning.

The salient measures proposed under these five respective categories include:

• Mepa policies concerning developments in protected zones being given legal standing to ensure the refusal of permits in obvious cases of policy infringement;

• Development of an initial screening process for applications, particularly those concerning developments in ODZs and UCAs;

• Providing more clout to the EPD in terms of decision-making powers;

• The removal of the reconsiderations option;

• Setting up of an audit function within Mepa;

• Reinforcing the fines established in the DPA and increasing these as necessary;

• Reforming the planning appeals boards;

• Changes to the composition and modus operandi of DCCs;

• Commissioning of EIAs to be carried out by Mepa; and

• Adopting a more holistic approach in the assessment of development applications and ensuring a wider role for civil society.