MEPA evaluating printing services' tariffs

The authority today withdrew a €100 printing tariff after Labour MP Roderick Galdes said the tariffs were illegal.

The authority said it is evaluating the costs of this service as per application. “Expenses vary accordingly. This exercise is being put forward to drastically reduce printing costs and resources. Bills issued by MEPA, for the request for payment of printing costs are to be excused as an administrative error. As a result, this morning, a circular was issued explaining that the bills were being withdrawn,” MEPA said in a statement.

Prior to the 2010 MEPA reform, the authority used to request the applicants to submit six hard copies of their respective application for planning permits within the development scheme.

Furthermore, applications for planning permits classified as outside development zone (ODZ) entailed the submission of eight hard copies. These documents include plans, site plans, application forms, photos and any other relevant documents related to the proposed project.

In 2007, MEPA introduced the new E-Applications system. In spite of the fact that this system was not obligatory, most of the architects made used of such facilities and processed their applications electronically.

Also, the new E-Applications system enabled the facility to process consultations electronically. As a result, the authority reduced the submission of printed documents from six hard copies to four hard copies.

When the MEPA reform was put into effect,the new E-applications system became mandatory. Therefore, all planning applications are to be submitted digitally by the architect. MEPA is currently responsible to officially print and file the applications.

MEPA reduced the printing process to only one copy of the application at its initial stage. Eventually, once the application process is finalised, an additional three copies of the approved documents will be printed of which two of them will be sent to the applicant and architect respectively. The hard copy will also be forwarded to the enforcement officials during their site inspection. Finally, the approved copy will be officially filed within MEPA’s documents archive.