Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/219723
9 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2013 lance deepens Government companies, corporations Source: Department of Information, MFSA, Government Gazette 2012 Women Air Malta 2 Gozo Channel 2 MIA plc 1 Malta Government Investments 2 MIMCOL 2 Bank of Valletta 0 Wasteserv 3 IPSL 0 Central Bank 2 Malta Stock Exchange 2 Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation 1 Public Broadcasting Services - board of directors 2 Public Broadcasting Services - editorial board Malita Investments plc 1 Employment and Training Corporation 4 Enemalta 4 Malta Enterprise 3 Malta Freeport 0 Malta Industrial Parks 2 Water Services Corporation 4 Women on boards: the facts On average, a mere 15.8% of board members and 16.8% of non-executive board members of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges in the 27 Member States are women. Women are barely visible among top business leaders – more than 96 out of 100 com¬pany presidents are men. Men 5 4 5 3 3 9 6 5 3 3 4 5 4 7 5 8 3 4 5 2013 Women 1 4 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 4 1 1 0 1 1 Men 7 6 8 3 4 8 5 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 9 6 8 3 5 8 Countries with legislative quotas remain the motor of change: the proportion of women on the boards of Italian companies (on the FTSE MIB index) has nearly doubled over the past year reaching 11.0% in October 2012, up from 5.8% in October 2011. This change is prompted by the legislation adopted in July 2011, which requires publicly listed and state owned companies to have at least one third of the under-represented gender on both management and supervisory boards by 2015. Similarly, in France the proportion of women board members has doubled in two years to reach 25.1% compared to 12.3% in October 2010. Again, this is a response to the 40% quota to be achieved in large companies by 2017. In Iceland, legislation introduced in 2010 set a deadline of September 2013 for companies with more than 50 employees to have at least 40% of each gender on the board. By October 2012 the proportion of women on the boards of Iceland's largest companies had reached 36.2%, an increase of 15.7 percentage points over the previous year. from high-rise development for these types of buildings," MEPA told MaltaToday. But instead of banning mediumrise developments in those towns not deemed suitable for such landmarks, the new policy still gives the private sector "the opportunity to come up with sites which upon detailed evaluation may also be suitable for medium rise buildings". All Sliema eligible for high-rise On Monday MEPA identified the Tigné peninsula in Sliema as one of five sites where development over 10 floors can take place. But it has also revealed that all sites in Sliema not classified as part of its extensive urban conservation area, which in- cludes most of the locality's historical core, may be identified for high-rise towers over 10 storeys. But MaltaToday was unable to get a clear answer as to where exactly these boundaries have been drawn up. The only map attached to the draft high-rise policy, includes the whole of Sliema as a site for both medium-rise and high-rise developments. In reply to a request for a map clearly delineating where buildings over 10 storeys high can be built, MEPA replied that the Tigné peninsula is the locality "proposed as suitable for tall buildings". But in order not to identify particular sites as being suitable for tall buildings "all sites within Sliema which are outside an urban conservation area or a residential priority area and are surrounded by streets on all sides, would be eligible for consideration". The MEPA spokesperson justified this lack of detail by saying that the "clear intention of the policy document is not to identify sites and therefore specific boundaries were not drawn up." But he then said that the "acceptance or otherwise of individual proposals would depend heavily on the use, design and particular characteristics of the sites themselves." The major pending high rise developments in Sliema is the 23-storey Town Square project proposed by Gasan Group. The development involves the restoration of the derelict Villa Drago and includes the site of the former Union Club which is located in the boundary between the town centre and Qui-Si-Sana. The new draft policy also limits development of 10-storey blocks to Qawra, Paceville, Tigné, Marsa, Gzira and Pembroke. It encourages medium-rise in the entire urban conurbation from St Julian's and Sliema in the north to Gzira, Msida and Pietà, in Marsa and Marsakala in the south, and in Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul's Bay in the north. This will pave the way for the development of 7 to 10-apartment blocks in Sliema, Gzira, St Julian's and Marsascala. Where the local plans limit building heights to 6, 7 or 8 floors as the case is with most of the Gzira and Sliema front, apartment blocks can now rise to up to 10 storeys. Sliema wants height reduction Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop (Nationalist) has made it clear his council is opposed to more large scale development and any increase in building heights. "We're proposing that building heights are actually reduced in some areas," Chircop said. He also expressed his concern on the lack of clarity on where 10-storey development will be allowed in Sliema, pointing out that the document gives the impression that it will be restricted to the Tigné area. The council has requested further information from MEPA on the delineation of Tigné and whether this includes the Qui-Si-Sana area. Marsaskala mayor Mario Calleja (Labour) on his part, would not pronounce himself on the matter. "I am not in a position to answer your query at this entire moment since I have to meet councillors to discuss issue further. Will be able to give you outcome of discussion after the 19th December." Mario Salerno, the mayor of St Paul's Bay (Labour) referred to the council's stance in meetings with MEPA against high-rise development in place of Qawra's characteristic bungalows and in Xemxija, which is excluded by the latest plans. Invitation to TENDER MITA NOTIFIES THAT OFFERS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR: - Plants Maintenance Services using Environmentally Friendly Practices – T101/13 Issued on: 21 November 2013 / Closing on: 18 December2013 The above tenders are obtainable from the Electronic Public Procurement System (www.etenders.gov.mt) For further information, contact the Contracts Management Department 2123 4710 www.mita.gov.mt