Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/667669
7 JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority's new agricultural advisory committee (AAC) has been changed under the new planning law, which did away with the possibility of ap- pointing independent members to this consultative panel. The committee advises the PA on any development on agricul- tural land. But it is now exclusively com- posed of government officials, a spokesperson for parliamentary secretary Deborah Schembri has confirmed. The new law approved last year has stripped the committee of its original powers, which included that of assessing whether there is "a genuine need" of any pro- posed development. In fact the original committee over the past months, which in- cluded both government officials and independent members, often cited the lack of "genuine need" in various objections to develop- ments proposed in the country- side. Case officers often cited the AAC's disagreement as justifi- cation for refusing the develop- ment of agricultural stores – usually a pretext for residential development in rural areas. Last week MaltaToday report- ed that the original members of the committee, who included Sammy Vella, the former inde- pendent mayor of Mellieha, an agricultural expert and chairman of the Majjistral park, were not even informed that they were be- ing removed. Contacted by MaltaToday last week, Sammy Vella expressed his disappointment at the way the members of the committee were replaced. "I have written to the Prime Minister to tell him that courtesy demands that members of an official committee are in- formed when their services are no longer required," he said. Three months ago Sammy Vel- la had written to the Prime Min- ister expressing concern on a number of permits awarded, de- spite the contrary advice of the AAC and to a number of cases where the advice of the AAC was not even sought. The terms of reference for the new committee, issued in 2014, stated that it was to be composed "of persons of integrity and ex- perts". But the new law effec- tively purged the committee of independent members and re- stricted membership to govern- ment officials. Article 66 of the Development Planning Act requires that the members of the Committee shall be "representatives of the de- partments, agencies and authori- ties responsible for agriculture, veterinary services, resources and public health". The new law also makes no ref- erence to several of the functions ascribed to the committee whose terms of reference included "safeguarding agriculture from industrial development", "assess- ing whether there is a genuine need," and "to decide whether any change of use into anything which is not agricultural is sup- ported by sound justification." In the new law the Agricultural Advisory Committee powers are limited to providing "profession- al and expert advice" to the Plan- ning Board on development ap- plications related to agriculture and other development outside the development zone. The Committee can also evalu- ate development proposals and state whether the proposed in- terventions would benefit or hin- der sustainable agriculture. The Committee can also "suggest methods as to how a develop- ment proposal may be rendered acceptable in terms of sustain- able agriculture, farm, and rural development". The Agricultural Advisory Committee also col- lates information regarding de- velopment applications related to agriculture. The government spokesper- son said that the new committee would ensure a "smooth consul- tation process without unneces- sary delays in view of the limited time to submit replies." Since board members are all government officials they also "have access to the relevant information systems held by the departments, the required knowledge and the expertise to take prompt decisions". The new members of the com- mittee are Charlo Camilleri, Di- rector Plant Health within the Ministry for Sustainable Devel- opment, the Environment and Climate Change; Frankie Ivan Caruana, Assistant Director Ag- riculture within the Agriculture Directorate, Ministry for Sus- tainable Development, the En- vironment and Climate Change; Duncan Chetcuti Ganado, Sen- ior Veterinary Officer within the Veterinary Regulations Direc- torate; James Gauci, Manager within the Rural Development Department; Joseph Zammit, Livestock Entitlement Co-Or- dinator within the Veterinary Regulations Directorate; Manuel Sapiano, Chief Technical Officer within the Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit; and Sandro Sammut, Senior En- vironmental Health Practitioner within the Environmental Health Directorate. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 APRIL 2016 News 'Yes Men' take over as independent advisors kicked off PA's agri panel A panel which advises the Planning Authority on development in agricultural areas is now restricted to government officials - THREE SPECTACULAR COLOURFUL NIGHTS - MARSAXLOKK SATURDAY 16.04.2016 GOZO SATURDAY 23.04.2016 VALLETTA SATURDAY 30.04.2016 Case officers often cited the AAC's disagreement as justification for refusing the development of agricultural stores – usually a pretext for residential development in rural areas.