The Minister for Lands and Implementation of the Electoral Program Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli presided over the signing of a devolution agreement between the Lands Authority and the Local Council of St Paul’s Bay. Thanks to this agreement, Government land in the heart of San Pawl il Baħar was handed over to the Local Council in order to build a service center for the community.
Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi explained how this agreement will not only be of great benefit to the residents of this locality but will be of great help to the Local Council in its work for the residents. Through this agreement, the Local Council will begin to save thousands of euros per year in rents thanks to the capping scheme on the payment of the annual rents of public properties of the Lands Authority , up to a maximum of €500 per year.
Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi went on to say that during 2023, 32 devolution agreements of Government lands were made between the Lands Authority and various Local Councils, while the renewal of 38 existing agreements was made. During the same year the Authority also approved 80 requests for no objection in principle for various projects from Local Councils.
“All this testifies to the continuous support that the Lands Authority is giving to the Local Councils so that the public lands are administered in the best possible way for the benefit of the residents”, concluded Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.
For her part, the Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli said that through the scheme that facilitates the devolution of land to local councils, the Local Council of San Pawl il la Mare will be benefiting from a piece of land for -development of a building that will provide various services for the community of San Paul il Baħar. She explained that without the devolution scheme, this project would have been difficult to carry out by the local council, for the reason that such a project would require a substantial investment for the land space only.
“This project is a clear example of the fruits that this scheme is leaving and how much the Government will continue to support the local councils, so that they continue to carry out projects and initiatives in the heart of the Maltese and Gozitan localities for good. of all the residents,” concluded the Parliamentary Secretary Zerafa Civelli.
The Mayor of San Paul il-Baħar Alfred Grima expressed his satisfaction for this milestone where he explained that after several meetings and work by the Council led to this agreement being made.
The land on which it is proposed to build this center contains approximately 1,200m 2 , of which an average of 720m 2 can be built. This land was indicated by the Lands Authority at the request of the same Council due to its position in Triq San Ćorġ in the heart of the locality. Currently, St Paul’s Bay is the largest locality in Malta and Gozo and therefore this building will be one of the largest local centres, with parking for more accessibility for residents.
