Floriana local council insists it, not the government, has the final say on whether to issue a permit for the Isle of MTV on the Granaries.

In a three-hour meeting on Wednesday, the majority of council members agreed that the law was on their side and reserved the right not to grant permits for the popular June music event. Two members, however, said they were not clear on what the law said but would abide by it nonetheless.

Deputy mayor Matthew Paris said last week that he was considering refusing to issue the necessary permits because the government had “abandoned” the locality’s New Year’s Eve festivities. The council is also irked by the mess and inconvenience to residents caused by the concert.

Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera said when Mr Paris made his warning that councils could not halt national festivities.

But the council says it was responsible for issuing permits for previous events and had been approached by the event organisers to reserve the Granaries for this year’s concert.

More on the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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