The Ministry of Transport is trying to allay the concerns of the parliamentary audit committee regarding the planned relocation of government services to buildings other than the existing ones.
The Ministry of Transport sent a letter to the parliamentary audit committee noting that in case the necessary certificates of approval are not provided for the buildings to which the services of the town planning department and the land registry department will move, then the issue will be examined by the competent committee.
In the letter, the ministry gives explanations on the issue of relocating the headquarters of the cadastre and surveying department in Nicosia and the provincial office of the town planning department and the Famagusta provincial cadastral office to a building in Paralimni.
Regarding the relocation of the central offices of the cadastre, it is noted that the owner of the building was given an extension until September 9, in order to obtain a certificate of approval. "The configuration works of the building are in the final stage and their completion is expected soon as well as the securing of the approval certificate.
For the building in Paralimni, the Ministry of Transport notes that the two services of the provincial planning department and the provincial cadastre of Famagusta will be relocated there.
"An urban planning permit has been secured for this building and the required landscaping work has already begun, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year," the letter reads.
As noted, once the work is completed the necessary steps will be taken by the owner to secure a certificate of approval.
In the event that these certificates are not secured, the matter will be raised with the Central Government Housing Authority Committee for consideration and decision, the letter said.
At the same time, the Cadastre and Surveying Department, in a letter to the Auditor General Odysseas Michailidis, on this issue, notes that for the building in Nicosia, the issuance of the final approval certificate and the delivery of the building is expected soon.
Immediately after the department will award the tender and will inform the successful bidder to proceed with the move.
Therefore, as clarified, there is no question of any compensation being paid to the successful bidder. A pre-agreed rental document has been signed for this case.
In response to remarks by the Auditor General, it is noted that the total cost to be paid for renting and meeting the energy needs of the new building is approximately the same as the total cost paid for renting and meeting the energy needs of the existing buildings to be rented. . Taking into account additional factors, the benefit of this relocation will be clearly greater, says the cadastral department, which refers to its goal of building privately owned headquarters, noting that it is the most economical solution.
A relevant project note has been positively evaluated by the Directorate-General for European Programs and the project is being promoted for approval and inclusion in the medium-term financial framework.
At the same time, the department rejects the characterization of Odysseas Michailidis for the preliminary agreement as a "heterogeneous contract", stating that this was legally processed by the legal service. It is noted that there was no issue of termination of this contract since the owner complied with the instructions of the competent authority regarding the securing of the certificate of approval.
Source: StockWatch / Maria Hambi