{"id":11681,"date":"2024-05-13T18:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T15:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=11681"},"modified":"2024-05-13T18:00:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T15:00:48","slug":"mps-furious-over-last-minute-changes-to-local-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=11681","title":{"rendered":"MPs furious over last-minute changes to local government"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/mps-furious-over-last-minute-changes-to-local-government.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p>Lawmakers on Monday vented their frustration at the government for bringing last-minute changes to legislation relating to the reform of local government, as the new system of governance is set to kick in right after the elections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cypru-video-ads\" id=\"cypru-202916144\">\n<div id=\"cypru-1066250947\" data-cypru-trackid=\"478051\" data-cypru-trackbid=\"1\" class=\"cypru-target\">\n<div id=\"gpt-ad-5832898789973-0\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>MPs drew a line in the sand, accepting just two amendments to the relevant laws tabled by the interior ministry. For the rest of the proposed changes, said Akel\u2019s Aristos Damianou, they would not take them to the plenum for a vote until after the local government elections taking place on June 9.<br \/>\nWhereas parliamentarians agree that the changes \u2013 which have to do with the workings of the new system of local government \u2013 are necessary, they are irritated with the administration for introducing them this late.<br \/>\nAccording to Damianou, who chairs the House interior affairs committee, MPs have agreed to forward to the upcoming plenary session only two government amendments. The first concerns a transitional arrangement, allowing the District Self-Governance Organisations \u2013 to be created under the new system \u2013 to approve their own budgets along with the government, without requiring the nod from parliament. This transitional arrangement would apply for six months.<br \/>\nThe second government bill relates to appointments of the individuals heading up various local government services, for a limited time until normal appointment procedures are passed.<br \/>\nAll other pending matters would be discussed right after the elections of June 9, said Damianou.<br \/>\nUnder the new governance system, the issuing of permits for land development will be transferred from the 30 existing municipalities to the five District Self-Governance Organisations. The government recently tabled a bill where the municipalities should stop accepting permit applications between June 7 to July 1. This was to give time to current employees dealing with permits to be formally transferred to the District Self-Governance Organisations.<br \/>\nThe government likewise wanted MPs to fast-track this bill. But legislators refused, arguing that suspending the filing of applications would deal a blow to the economy. They instead counter-proposed that municipalities continue accepting such applications from June 7 to July 1, but keep them on file without processing them.<br \/>\nDisy MP Nikos Sykas said there are already some 40,000 pending permit applications as it is.<br \/>\nOverall, parliamentarians are disappointed with the government for waiting until the last moment to bring legislation to the House. Sykas mentioned, for example, that even this week the cabinet will be approving more bills relating to the new system of local government.<br \/>\nUnder the new system, five District Self-Governance Organisations \u2013 or district councils \u2013 will be created. The existing sewerage councils, water supply councils, solid waste management and urban planning authorities, will all be merged at the district level.<br \/>\nAt the moment, whenever someone wants a land division permit or to make amendments to their house, they have to go through the rigmarole \u2013 visit the district officer, then town planning authorities, then other services. This will stop under the new streamlined system with the concentration of powers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawmakers are frustrated with the government for making last-minute changes to legislation related to the reform of local government. They have agreed to only two amendments for now, with the rest to be discussed after the local government elections on June 9. The changes include allowing District Self-Governance Organisations to approve their own budgets and the appointment of individuals to head local government services temporarily. Permit applications for land development will be transferred to the new District Self-Governance Organisations. Legislators refused to fast-track a bill suspending permit applications, citing potential negative impact on the economy. The new system will merge various local government authorities at the district level to streamline processes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1521,671,4800,8575,3492,9580,4029,3345,5702,2577,3,3818,672,26,153,8903,7704,250,3330,4823,415,9860,5846,9046,7905,3032,7812,2121,2685,9861,148,2779,7815,879,6653,2179,7856,3331,1799,6971,3572,9673,720,1806,6928,4120,4100,1774,884,6886,962,6305],"class_list":["post-11681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyprus","tag-1521","tag-akel","tag-appointment","tag-authorities","tag-bill","tag-bills","tag-budgets","tag-cabinet","tag-committee","tag-concerns","tag-cyprus","tag-development","tag-disy","tag-economy","tag-elections","tag-follow","tag-frustrated","tag-google","tag-google-news","tag-governance","tag-government","tag-government-frustration","tag-government-services","tag-house","tag-impact","tag-interior-ministry","tag-june-9","tag-land","tag-legislation","tag-legislation-changes","tag-local","tag-local-government","tag-local-government-elections","tag-local-government-reform","tag-management","tag-municipalities","tag-new-system","tag-news","tag-parliament","tag-permits","tag-proposed-changes","tag-reform-of-local-government","tag-rest","tag-services","tag-six","tag-urban-planning","tag-visit","tag-vote","tag-waste","tag-waste-management","tag-water","tag-who"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- 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