REPORT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Mr Martin Saliba The year 2020 was difficult for everyone and not least for the Planning Authority. However, looking back on my first full year as the Executive Chairperson, I can proudly say that we managed to overcome the many challenges that the pandemic brought upon us, while simultaneously continuing our work to serve the public.
The Covid-19 outbreak at the start of the year presented disruptions to regular processes and we needed to work towards ensuring the safety of all employees and stakeholders. A new protocol was immediately introduced, allowing Executive Council, Planning Board and Planning Commission public meetings to be done through video conferencing. The public’s participation was a priority here and a step-by-step user manual was published to help the various users participate. Moreover, the Authority also extended development permits, which were to expire at the end of 2022, for a further three years. This was done to prevent major disruptions which could have led to imbalanced construction across the island once the situation is normalised.
The pandemic changed the way we work possibly forever and the Planning Authority led this shift towards remote working very swiftly. In a matter of days, almost all employees were switched to remote digital working. The IT unit distributed new laptops, bought a new server and relevant software licences, and successfully set up hundreds of employees to work from home. This was no coincidence as it came after years of investment in ICT and a gradual cultural shift was implemented. The ICT team also improved the eApps portal, requiring Periti to submit and access documentation electronically. This facilitated digital processing of planning and development applications. By avoiding the need to meet physically, everyone saves time and we reduce the negative environmental impact of driving and printing paper.
The ICT, Mapping and Digital Services Directorate updated operational systems and their automation, for instance, by implementing a bank guarantee system, permit development
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