Planning strains Heritage Superintendence’s resources

70% the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage’s resources are dedicated to the assessment of planning applications and the regulation of development works, the cultural watchdog annual report reveals. 

The report also reveals that in 2016 SCH was unable to fulfil its legal obligation to update its inventory records “due to a lack of resources” and “more pressing commitments.”

The superintendence was assigned two extra officers to bring its total staff complement to 14 officers.

The number of development applications assessed by the Superintendence increased from 1,099 cases in 2015 to 5,440 in 2016. In 2012 the Superintendence was consulted on only 409 applications.

This sharp increase is attributed to changes in planning regulations enacted in 2016. 

At law each application requires a response from external consulates like the superintendence in 30 days from the publication of the application. 

The Superintendence is also now being advised by the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, formerly an advisory panel within the Planning Authority tasked with screening planning applications on a regular basis. 

The committee is now performing the same task within the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. The CHAC provided the superintendence advice of 307 applications.

The committee now chaired by Superintendent Tony Pace includes Magistrate Dennis Montebello as its deputy chairperson.  

The annual report also reveals that in 2016 the superintendence was “not in a position to publish any new inventory records…due to a lack of resources and other more pressing commitments.”   

The first instalment of inventory records were published in 2011.  Of the 4807 records inputted on the Cultural Heritage Inventory Management System, none were inputted in 2016. 

Article 7 of the Cultural Heritage Act stipulates that the Superintendence has to compile a National Inventory of cultural property in the Maltese islands.