Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1148959
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JULY 2019 NEWS Love of country, its people and their common good. Varied work experiences and qualifications. Ability to foster dialogue. Teamwork and collective responsibility. Ability to commit at least 5 hours per week on a voluntary basis. The call is open to both party members and non-members in order to be able to attract the best talent. 1 2 3 4 5 PN REFORM CALL FOR INTERESTED PARTIES To make the PN more relevant and responsive to the needs of Maltese society, a multi-disciplinary team is being set up to work hand-in-hand with Dr Louis Galea in this over-arching political reform. THE IDEAL REQUIREMENTS ARE Interested individuals may email us on foresight@azad.org.mt by Saturday 24 August with a CV and a note of motivation. Every application will be personally evaluated by Dr Louis Galea and shall be dealt with in the strictest of confidence. ! Half-year deficit is in line with targets, government insists PUBLIC finances were in the red at the end of June but government is insisting the deficit is in line with its targets. The Finance Ministry said yesterday that gov- ernment finance data was not off the mark. Figures released by the National Statistics Of- fice last week showed that government's consoli- dated fund registered a €156.2 million deficit in the first six months of 2019. This was the largest deficit at the half-way mark since 2016. But the Finance Ministry said this was in line with its targets and that government revenue continued to be buoyant. Tax revenue rose by €218 million or 12.5 per cent, reflecting an increase in employment in- come coupled with a record low unemployment rate, the ministry said. The deficit at the halfway mark last year stood at €141.9 million, a position that has worsened by €15 million. The biggest generator of revenue for govern- ment was income tax at €685 million, an increase of €91 million over the same period last year. So- cial security payments generated €471 million (+€47m) and VAT raised €448 million (+€57m). The ministry said that while expenditure growth will take care of the country's economic, social and environmental needs, it would be kept in line so as to provide a modest surplus by the end of the year. "Expenditure on public investment projects increased by €77 million for the first half of this year reflecting the various government projects currently being undertaken, in particular the projects to upgrade Malta's infrastructure," the ministry said. The government highlighted how recurrent expenditure increased by 11.7% with the highest contributor being expenditure on programmes and initiatives. Three arrested for bag thefts in Valletta THREE Algerian men were arrested in connec- tion with the theft of bags in Valletta yesterday. The police said the three men, aged between 47 and 51, had been under observation for some time. The police acted upon various reports they received and started investigating the men who have allegedly been stealing bags on a regular ba- sis in the capital. The three men have been held for further in- vestigation and will be arraigned in the coming days. JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has ap- proved a zoning application, which paves the way for the development of nine villas on the Villa Arrigo grounds. The approval goes against a clear recommendation by the case officer to refuse these plans, deemed to be in breach of planning policies. The planning control application presented by Veronica Zammit Ta- bona on behalf of Chateaux Limited is requesting the introduction of a cul-de-sac off St Paul's Street to ca- ter for the new residential plots. The proposed new road will be eight metres wide and will have a turning circle of 18 metres. The case officer report concluded that the proposal was in breach of the Strategic Plan for the Environ- ment and Development which aims to protect green open spaces in ur- ban areas. The Naxxar local council had also objected to the application since the proposal will result in the loss of part of the gardens of Villa Ar- rigo. Presently, the area is zoned for de- velopment up to a depth of 30 me- tres. The proposal was also deemed to be in breach of policies against the development of gardens and back- yards. The proposal was also deemed to create safety problems, in view that large parts of it do not have visibil- ity from the main road. Architect Edwin Mintoff defend- ed the application insisting that the proposed road is in conformity with the local plan because the ar- ea is zoned for residential use and is not part of the urban conserva- tion area. No development is being envis- aged on the part of the villa grounds in the immediate surroundings of Villa Arrigo wedding hall, which are included in Naxxar's urban con- servation area. But the development will still re- sult in the removal of a number of trees. Villa Arrigo was constructed by Cesare Garcin in 1887 and was originally known as Villa Garcin. Subsequently, it was sold and re- named Villa Agius until it was re- named Villa Arrigo, now operating as an upmarket venue, catering for various events, receptions and din- ners. The site is owned by Michael El- lul, Rebecca Licari, Sarah Grech, Thomas Sullivan, Francesca Man- duca and Edward Zammit Tabona. Villa Arrigo grounds to get nine villas