In accordance with Article 22(4) of the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman, Mr. Anthony C. Mifsud, and the Commissioner for Environment and Planning, Perit Alan Saliba, submitted a Final Opinion to the House of Representatives regarding works consisting of the extension of a pavement that encroached upon public parking spaces in front of the Siġġiewi Football Club.

Case Summary

During the investigation, the Commissioner found that the pavement extension in question had been carried out after Infrastructure Malta obtained the necessary authorisations from the Planning Authority, Transport Malta, and the Siggiewi Local Council. However, it was discovered that the Mayor had only issued the no-objection without following normal Local Government procedures, which were not in line with the Local Government Act. The Mayor and the Executive Secretary did not provide appropriate reasons why established procedures were not followed.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Commissioner concluded that the Mayor and the Executive Secretary of the Siggiewi Local Council committed a maladministration act when the extension of the pavement was not made in the interests of the residents and against the primary principles of the Local Government Act. The Commissioner recommended that the pavement extension be removed at the expense of the Mayor and the Executive Secretary.

Outcome

The Siggiewi Local Council did not implement the Commissioner’s Final Opinion, and the case was referred to the Prime Minister and the House of Representatives.