Update 3: Mepa explains bills for printing services
Updated 7.30 p.m.
Mepa said this evening that its tariffs currently did not include the cost of printing services related to the processing of development permits, but it reiterated that bills issued to a number of clients were an administrative error, and they had been withdrawn.
The Authority issued an explanation after Labour spokesman Roderick Galdes in the morning slammed the charges, describing them as a tax and saying they were illegal because Mepa tariffs are regulated by legal notice.
The bills were also criticised by the Developers’ Association.
Mepa explained that prior to the 2010 reform, it used to request applicants to submit six hard copies of their development application documents when the development was in a development scheme. Applications for planning permits outside development zones (ODZ) entailed the submission of eight hard copies. These documents inlcuded plans, site plans, application forms, and photos.
In 2007, it introduced the E-Applications system and most architects submitted their applications electronically. As a result, the authority reduced the submission of printed documents from six hard copies to four.
When the MEPA reform was put into effect, the new E-applications system became mandatory. Therefore, all planning applications are to be submitted digitally by the architect. Mepa became responsible to offically print and file the applications, forwarding copies tot he various authorities and bodies which needed to be consulted over the various applications.
Once the application process was finalised, an additional three copies of the approved documents were printed and handed to the applicant, the architect and enforcement officials.
The present tariffs, issued through Legal Notice LN58/2011, did not include printing services, the Authority said.
“The Authority is evaluating the costs of this service as per application. Expenses vary accordingly. This exercise is being put forward to drastically reduce printing costs and resources. Bills issued by MEPA, for the request for payment of printing costs are to be excused as an administrative error. As a result, this morning, a circular was issued explaining that the bills were being withdrawn.”
The Malta Developers Association said that Mepa was 'totally insensitive' when it billed its clients for 'printing costs' related to their development application.
The association said the bills were issued without explanation as to how Mepa had decided the valuation of these expenses and whether these in fact reflected the actual costsof paper and printing.
"Once again, Mepa is showing that it is totally insensitive and is not understanding the circumstances in which the property industry in Malta finds itself today," the Developers' Association said.
Earlier, Mr Galdes said the bills issued by Mepa were illegal as Mepa charges were regulated by legal notice.
He said Mepa had written to some 3,500 families, asking them to pay between €125 and €450.
He described the new charge as a 'new tax' and said it was illegal because Mepa fees were covered by legal notice.
He noted that in the last line of the letter, the clients were told that if they did not pay within 30 days, their application would be suspended.
He had confronted Mepa about the letter and was told by officials at 10 p.m. yesterday that the letters were 'an administrative mistake'. Mepa, he said, had told him that the letters would be revoked. He noted that some people had already paid and asked if they would be refunded.
He expressed his surprise how no one had noticed that a mistake was being made while the letters were printed, signed and packed for delivery.
Mr Galdes said that despite the exorbitant increase in planning applications which were supposed to cover printing costs, the authority was this year expected to make a loss of between €8 and €12 million.
He called on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to explain.
Shortly after Mr Galdes's press conference, Mepa said that its was withdrawing its requests for payment and the affected applicants would be receiving a letter informing them of this decision in the coming days.
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Mrs C Zammit
Jul 21st 2011, 22:55
Mepa is after one thing - making money.
First the tariffs were increased absorbitantly without any consideration on the real costs and now as if that wasn't enough are trying to find additional ways of making more money such as tariffs for printing, fees for unnecessary surveying, fees for a screening letter which is no more than a standard letter, blatantly refusing compliance certificates so that applicants have to resubmit and pay again etc.
Did Mepa ever explain the cost involved in processing an application? Let's say an application fee amounts to 5000 euros - can Mepa deduce the number of hours that were dedicated to process the application and therefore at what rate per hour is Mepa charging applicants? This means that if Mepa took an overall of say 20 hours for such an application (which is quite a lot) the applicant is paying 250 euros an hour. No wonder the chairman compared himself to an expensive car.
Mepa is like that businessman who first decided to have a large villa with landscaped gardens, a super yacht, a private jet and a numer of super fast cars. After completing his list with a number of other ways to indulge himself he then decided how much to charge his clients even though his service remained shoddy.
JL Abdilla
Jul 21st 2011, 21:23
Jafu X`qedin jghamlu?? illejla residenti minn Wied il-Ghasel resqu quddiem il-kunsill biex jevita aktar qerda ta Wied il-Ghasel. F`din il-laghqa hareg li hemm fondi mill-EU biex jigu mharrsa u msewwieqa dawn il-widien. Ghaldaqstant il-kunsill qabel unanimament li jappogja lil dawn ir-residenti biex tigi evtitata aktar qerda ta Wied il-Ghasel u ser jerga jaffaccja lil-Mepa biex il-permessi li hemm li jghamlu l-kuntrarju ta harsien lil dan il-Wied ferm importanti, jigu mwaqqfa immedjatament. Ta dan ahna nirringrazzjaw lil kunsill u kunsilli ohra li ghandhom ghal qalbhom l-ambjent. Ma tantx tghamel sens li l-ewwel tinghata fondi biex issewwi u tirranga u fl-istess nifs johorgu permessi li jghamlu l-kuntrarju........
Mario Camilleri
Jul 21st 2011, 10:16
"an administrative mistake"? come on!!! Who the hell do you think you are trying to kid? This was intentionally, nothing else.
Rest assured all, that these tariffs will be charged in the near future as part of another reform.
Mr Charles Portelli
Jul 21st 2011, 09:40
First off, EUR 125 minimum??? I printed 4 copies of my university theses and, all together, costed me much less than that amount. I wonder, what the hell are they gonna print with all that money?
In second instance I received a letter from MEPA this morning stating that the request for payment has been "recalled". However we all saw the writing on the wall. They are gonna get us sooner rather than later. As if the EUR 5,000+ I had to pay for my application were not enough to pay for that blessed paper.
Mepa is, in my opinion, an "iljunfant imnaffar" (sorry I don't know the appropriate english phrase for that).
C.Portelli
Zebbug
j brincat
Jul 21st 2011, 09:25
Hawwadni ha nhawdek!
(jb)
Mr Ernest Vella
Jul 21st 2011, 09:07
Who did the administrive error must be sacked out immediatly. The thing that no one takes responsability is not fair towards the Maltese people who pay taxex, till the last cent
Joselle Camilleri
Jul 21st 2011, 08:42
Considering everything I hope that MEPA will be OBLIGED to refund all those who paid this indirect tax. At this day and age when receipts can, on request, be sent electronically, we can print the stuff ourselves at the cost of may be 2 Euro cents!
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 21st 2011, 03:38
This goverrment has become one big cash register and fleecing everyone whereever possible. It's a good job that there is a watchdog on the other side.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 20th 2011, 23:31
This is all beuraucracy to me. Why do they need all these papers and copies of plans in all this quantity (6 copies and even 8 copies). Dont they know that today we have photocopiers to do this work? Or is MEPA so anchored in beuraucracy that it has lost all sense of its work? Throw our those who are anchoring MEPA to the bad old days.
Pierre Spiteri
Jul 20th 2011, 23:28
Ma tigix wahda sew !! Pajjiz tal-buzullotti !! X'misthija
Peter Shaw
Jul 20th 2011, 22:10
Let it be always !
D. Farrugia
Jul 20th 2011, 20:36
Printing electronic documents defeats the whole purpose of having an electronic system in the first place. MEPA should not only be sensitive to its clients but also to the environment, something the development sector is eons behind. How many waste does MEPA generate in kilos of paper annually? Can someone answer this question please? Pfft.
Mr Steve Sant
Jul 20th 2011, 20:30
And yet where anything the State decides is golden, whilst people still suffering injustices from years ago such as the famous "unfair rent laws" are still being ignored. People still pay Eur185 a year for houses and Villa's and apartments sometimes in Prime areas. Yet good old Mepa could impose thousands at will. Its good to be the King !!
Mr Albert Dimech
Jul 20th 2011, 18:52
Another rip off and yet again implemented behind everyone's back!! At least someone is alert enough to notice and inform us all. Thanks Mr Galdes, you are not netting the €500 a week but you are doing you job well. I suggest that MEPA provide the docs electronically and applicants can print them elsewhere. It should cost much, much less, besides you can buy a brand new colour laser printed for less than €450. This country has become a big joke!!! Sick simply, sick!!
Alistor Aguis
Jul 20th 2011, 18:10
ejja aw xi hadd jaqbez alina
R Malia
Jul 20th 2011, 17:50
What about the Scam Mepa just imposed on businesses charging them on product's packaging! (Apart from the ECO SCAM TAX) is this a mistake too?
Buy the product from Ebay = you pay only for the product (Most of them do not invoice a VAT receipt)
You buy the same exact product from a Maltese shop = Pay VAT, Pay ECO TAX, PAY MEPA Packaging TAX!
SCAMMERS you should be ashamed !
Mr Joseph Grima
Jul 20th 2011, 16:33
Well done Roderick. Had it not been ior you MEPA would have fleeces thousands iof customers for God known how long. As it turned out ,MEPA has been shown upb as one more Government sponsored entitty which is there to tax people right or wrong. Typical Gonzi. No statemenet from the Minister responsible? Mhux hekk? the less said the better hux Minjstru!
Ms Eve Axiaq
Jul 20th 2011, 16:19
What about the millions of euros collected from developers which where suppose to go for Parking Schemes for the public? Instead Mepa bought Hexagon House. Is this right?
Mr FRANS H SAID
Jul 20th 2011, 21:01
These are used to continue to minimise even more parking spaces on the escuse of embelishment. Thus the Local Councils seem to be doing something positive when in fact they are hedging their income by issuing more parking tickets.
OPPS SORRY - In St Paul's Bay there are 300 parking spaces on unmade land and without any slot indication next to Fra Ben which is at least 3 kilometers away from the old St Paul's.
Viva the confusion and the people being taxed and fined dry for the slightest excuse.
Ms D Galea
Jul 20th 2011, 15:15
Did MEPA not avail itself of legal advice on the legality or otherwise of the recent raise in its fees BEFORE announcing said raise?
Jason Borg
Jul 20th 2011, 14:20
I also received one of these bills yesterday. This is daylight robbery and highlights the incompetence of MEPA and the extravagant fees they are charging.
V. Cauchi
Jul 20th 2011, 14:20
This is a simple message: the citizen himself must be aware, and question everything, and contest everything. Government and Authorities are constantly out on a FISHING EXPEDITION , a matter of big fish eating small fish.
Maria Zammit
Jul 20th 2011, 14:08
Pay between €125 - €450 for printing cost mela fuq karti tad-deher ser jipprintjawhom!!!?
Hope none of those who received such a letter were fool enough to pay and now that they have actually received the letter, to al least, recycle it and use it for toilet paper!
May we know who is the bright spark who signed the letter? Administrative error ha ha ha! Veru daylight robbery!
Every day, it gets worse and worse!
Mr Mario P. Sciberras
Jul 20th 2011, 13:53
All these authorities, foundations, regulators, and many others with silly names like "schools for tomorrow", which are being created now, left right and centre, will be our "Mazra ma Ghonqna" fil-futur.
Over staffing, political appointments, political interference and bad decisions will turn them into as big a problem as the drydocks was. The Drydocks used to generate employment and was a source of foreign revenue, these new bodies just charge/tax the locals for their inefficiencies.
Auditing ( in its different forrms) is an integral part of good governance.
Is the National Audit office really equiped to handle these jobs? what power do they have?
Albert Bezzina
Jul 20th 2011, 13:23
Even if withdrawn, could the citizens be given a breakdown of how these printing costs amount to such sums. We can also start being charged for MEPA's water and electricity bills, for the desks and chairs, for the paper used (all types), for the perks given to the top brass and maybe we can be charged for the air they breath assuming it is imported from the peaks of mountains in New Zealand away from the foul smell of the local air!
Mr R ferriggi
Jul 20th 2011, 12:43
we see that things are going terribly worng in this country.
the governemnt has created a few monster agencies which have made things worse for us.
and in the meantime earn a few chosen people a good load of ( taxpayers ) money.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 20th 2011, 12:41
SCRAP MEPA and get everything back to a government department.
It was just created to provide cushy jobs with fantastic salaries for the blue-eyed boys and gals at the taxpayers expense.
SCRAP IT.
Alfred Zahra De Domenico
Jul 20th 2011, 16:21
Do you hanker for a return to the days of Lorry Sant? Then no fees were paid but....
Mr Joseph Grima
Jul 20th 2011, 17:00
Hallina Zahra de Domenico. We hanker for the days when the citizen had a government to protect him or her, whichever Goverenmnt that was. Now we have a rogue Government that goes against the will of the people with impunity and that treats people as cash bleeders to be sucked dry. Possibbli trid tmur lura 35 sena biex tiggustifika lill dan is serq fil wicc? Il MEPA nqabdu jisirqu u qabadhom ir rapprezentant tal PL. Pleasures to come.
Mr edward ciantar
Jul 20th 2011, 18:38
@ De Domenico
.....................and the circus goes on
Mr francis darmanin
Jul 20th 2011, 19:55
to be quite honest I think it might have been better because even the small fry got to build what they wanted to. next to the fees of nowadays and the amounts mentioned in certain contracts L Sant seems like a cuddly teddy bear!!!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jul 20th 2011, 22:22
Alfred Zahra De Domenico I say not only scrap MEPA but start from Mr Rolls-Royce himself.
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 21st 2011, 03:41
Zahra De Domenico.
You are living with your head in the sand, this is 2011 it is now Gonzi fleecing the people.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Jul 20th 2011, 12:34
I believe that whoever at MEPA was responsible for this grave error of judgement and wanted to impose illegal administrative fines on the clients (the people) must be sacked by the government. These "errors" (i call them abuses) cannot be tolerated any further by any decent administration. No ifs or buts, no sorries, but give them the sack with immediate effect.
Mr Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Jul 20th 2011, 20:56
@ Mr buhagiar,
Minn jaf,
Jista forsi saret biex tgħamel il-ħsara lill gvern, billi xi ħadd jieħu l-opportunita minn dis-sitwazzjoni u jippromovi ruħu bħala s-salvatur?
Għax daqs dawk kbarat f'din il-MEPA ma tistenniex żbalji banali, ma jifrilkomx li dawn huma aktar manuvri inteliħenti?
Għoqod attent poplu Malti għax kollox jista wieħed jgħamel biex jakwista l-poter, allura temminx kollox!
Jien ma nemminix din il-balbuljata, U kif ħadd ma talab investigazzjoni?
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Jul 21st 2011, 03:46
Buhagiar.
I agree with you completely but I think the grave error is an intended money making machine in constant use by the present government keeping in mind that now MEPA is run by Gonzi who helped himself to a hefty raise of Euro 500 per week from 2008.
Mark Vella
Jul 20th 2011, 12:33
I am one of those 3500 families who received this letter .... was not surprised reading the last line of the letter stating that if I do not pay in 30 days my application will be withdrawn!!!!!! During my 9 months waiting to be granted a permit to do internal amendments to an existing legal & sanitary approved property ... and still waiting ... waiting ... and waiting ..... this ILLEGAL letter pops up to pay more fees! Absolute Incompetance! Shame on MEPA ..... Dr. Gonzi we would like an explanation maybe on Bondi +, Xarabank .... or Dissett !!!!! Thanks Mr. Roderick Galdes!
Mario Pace
Jul 20th 2011, 12:28
These things are not supposed to happen at MEPA because we are paying for a "Rolls Royce" Chairman to head it.
A DeBrincat
Jul 20th 2011, 12:23
MEPA should pay the same amount to the some 3,500 families, who were asked to pay, for health reasons such as heart problems. When one sees this type of letter in his post box for sure it's not healthy.
A DeBrincat
Jul 20th 2011, 12:17
Well well well, it was a new form of "Legal Usury"!!!
Mr A Spiteri
Jul 20th 2011, 12:10
"He noted that some people had already paid and asked if they would be refunded"
this is the most worrying from the whole story. the fact that some people paid for such illegality!
Indeed, we have become a nation of slaves. As good slaves we don’t even question why the master wants more money from us, we just pay and obey!
Mr A Spiteri
Jul 20th 2011, 12:07
beside the number of incompetent ministers, Transport Malta and MEPA are fast becoming the government’s liability!
Mr Emanuel Vella
Jul 20th 2011, 11:55
I wonder who will pay for the printing costs of 3,500 letters plus envelopes plus postage plus secretarial time consumed..............
j brincat
Jul 20th 2011, 12:54
Obviously, the taxpayers.
(jb)
j brincat
Jul 20th 2011, 11:50
Perhaps, an afterthought! Is this part of MEPA's so called reform!
Is this the way things should be done in this country?
(jb)
Mr mario scerri
Jul 20th 2011, 11:44
Dal-gvern drajnieh fil-budget ma jsemmi xejn anzi jghidlek budget bla-taxxi. lmbghad issib ma wiccek xi haga bhal din. Bl-iskuza tal-printing costs (TAXXA BIL-PULIT)
Nixtieq nistaqsi lil Lawrence Gonzi. Din hi r-riforma fil-MEPA li tant ftahart biha qabel l-ahhar Elezzjoni Generali tal-2008?
John Scerri
Jul 20th 2011, 11:27
He expressed his surprise how no one had noticed that a mistake was being made while the letters were printed, signed and packed for delivery.
Mr Galdes said that despite the exorbitant increase in planning applications which were supposed to cover printing costs, the authority was this year expected to make a loss of between €8 and €12 million.
A TRUE EXAMPLE OF SERIOUS LACK OF INTER-DEPARTIMENTAL COMMUNICATION , LEADING TO CLIENT DISSATISFACTION , LOSS OF TIME AND MONEY .
Losses of €8 to €12 million cry out LOUD for serious restructuring of Personnel , Training, Policies, Efficiency, Customer care, Flexibility, Proactivity,Burocratic procedures,Work processes.
Is anyone accountable for such miserable figures?
Is anyone ready to stand up and be counted ?
Has anyone got the guts to show interest in improving this authority?
Ms pat muscat
Jul 20th 2011, 11:25
Mepa has become a veritable money sucking machine to support the lifestyle of a few good men.
Joseph Vassallo
Jul 20th 2011, 12:06
The truth Pat is that anyone with a semblance of authority wants to justify his/her existence and benefit personally be that through "performance" bonuses or outright technical misappropriation. Just me thinking out loudly, that's all!!!
V. Cauchi
Jul 20th 2011, 11:23
I regret these "mistakes" are taking place too frequently and that they are becoming symptomatic of the state of our nation, in that -
1. our state authorities are out on a permanent FISHING EXPEDITION, casting nets for anybody who may be so gullible and law abiding as to promptly obey anything laid down by a seemingly knowing, all-powerful State; or
2. the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing, accountants not consulting lawyers, managers not being consulted or not imagining the political implications of their actions, etc.
One further example of what might have to be rescinded by ARMS Ltd in this case is that their bills have a notice at the back (HOW TO PAY YOUR BILL) that if one pays "BY DIRECT DEBIT You get €3 (€18 annually) discount per bill (credited in a subsequent bill) if you pay by direct debit. ... etc. "
Unfortunately this rebate applies only to direct debit systems and not to prompt payments by cash or cheque.
I opine that this direction is an unfair imposition, with no legal basis for its inclusion, and that the Regulator should look into it and extend it to those who pay by cheque (as I do, after all cheques are still legal tender and will remain so as has been last week decided in the UK) and cash - the money which the man in the street, who cannot be forced to use any other form, uses.
I think this matter should be taken up by consumers associations and looked into by the Regulator and the Ministers responsible for ARMS Ltd and Finance. It either has to apply to ALL forms of prompt payment, or to NONE at all.
Ms S Micallef
Jul 20th 2011, 11:16
why don't MEPA get rid of some of their extra employees who have been sitting there doing nothing rather than keep increasing these unnecessary charges for everyone to keep up with its costs.
Probably MEPA is the biggest PN disaster to date. Thank you dear MEPA, George Pullicino, Gonzi & Walker for making our country look like a slum.
A. Attard
Jul 20th 2011, 11:42
fully agree!
By the way..for all those out there reading this - please note that EXCAVATION WORKS or works causing a noise level of more than 65dB are NOT ALLOWED BETWEEN 2PM AND 4PM IN ANY AREA!!! The police do not seem to be aware of this legal notice 295 of 2007. Schedule III, page 12, Clause 1b.
http://www.mjha.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=10924
I wish the Times would give it some prominence and make people aware of their rights with respect to construction activities and the like, including contact numbers to report illegal activities or other nuisances. Maybe a regular feature.
I Bugeja
Jul 20th 2011, 11:01
MEPA should be paid for illegalities which it handles and if there is the need for payments building contractors should be made to pay more... It is often a sight which is presented by contractors who leave a site in dire state, neighbours complaining and endless projects with equipment left on the roads. These should be charged!!! The 8m gap can be easily bridged with the building frenzy going on.
Mr Peter Murray
Jul 20th 2011, 10:59
These charges will help fund the massive pay rises at MEPA.
Samuel Farrugia
Jul 20th 2011, 10:53
Unfortunately i was one of the victims to pay such fee ( I paid €150 for printing of i dont know what & the number of pages printed) , can the prime minister give a detailed explanation why such fees are being imposed and whether these fees are to be refunded. Also i would like to know why MEPA is not issuing reciepts against payment, because they said that they have a bug in the system that wouldn't allow them to issue receipts, this is the 2nd time that hapened to me. Mepa is saying that this problem has been going on since January. These are exorbent fees for the man in the street.
Andrew Ellul
Jul 20th 2011, 11:43
I was going to pay the €100 printing fee today!!
Joe Hili
Jul 20th 2011, 11:55
The MEPA employees themselves "are the bug"!