Filenews 31 October 2025 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The members of the Boards of Directors of the WBL and the LSDB in Nicosia were reduced from 60 before the reform of the Local Government to 17 members of the EDA, which succeeded the two organizations. At the same time, in Nicosia, the licensing authorities from 12 were merged into one, while at the pan-Cypriot level the 46 authorities were reduced to five.
These moves translate into cost reductions, with efforts continuing.
The above reports were made by the president of the HOA Nicosia before the Parliamentary Committee on Interior to demonstrate that an effort is being made to save and modernize. And of course, the Municipalities are making their own efforts for savings.
The NGOs also expect the government to fund €2 million in order to handle the issue of the dangerous buildings that were loaded on them. The NOA of Nicosia has already spent about €400,000 to support dangerous buildings without receiving a single euro from the government and essentially these expenses are raised by the citizens through the water supply and sewerage funds.
Filenews asked Mr. Georghadjis for the positions of the HOA on the savings and the progress of the reform and replied as follows:
Our position remains firm: we believe that we are right to proceed with the reform. Due to its importance and scope, implementation is demanding; However, we believe that it is progressing satisfactorily.
On the positives of the whole project, he records:
• Reduction of the remuneration cost of the boards of directors: Indicatively, the members of the boards of directors of the WBL and LSDB in Nicosia amounted to 60 people, while today they are limited to 17 members of the Board of Directors of the EOA. At the same time, the positions of General Managers were reduced from two to one.
• Merger of licensing authorities: In Nicosia, 12 licensing authorities were merged into one Urban Planning Authority, while at a pan-Cypriot level the 46 authorities were reduced to 5 with many advantages such as:
• Unified license operation management
• Uniform interpretation of legislative regulations, directives and circulars governing licensing
• Unified teams at the provincial level in the areas of enforcement, land segregation, communication and issuance of final approvals, file management
• Creation of Service Hubs in the countryside
• Expedited licensing: The expedited licensing procedure is applied for licensed plots of land, detached houses and apartment buildings with up to 12 apartments.
• Improvement in the management of Green Points.
• Water supply: In the communities recently voluntarily included in the single water supply network of the EOA, there is a reduction in water leaks.
Regarding the pending issues related to the licensing, he notes:
• We expect an urgent promotion of the grant process for the management of dangerous buildings, as well as information on the absorption of the budget of €2 million and the safeguarding of the amount on an annual basis.
• We ask that the absence of consultation not be repeated, as was the case in the cases of the management of communal buildings, the photovoltaic plan, the urban amnesty, the operating licenses of oil stations and the "Rent against Instalment" plan.
• We propose the creation of a Unified Licensing Authority for Listed Buildings in the Department of Town Planning and Housing
• We ask for a short extension of the contracts of a limited number of Licensing Officers as compensation for the delays in the approval of structures and the malfunctions of the "Hippodamus".
• An amendment to the decree granting powers of the Minister of the Interior is required, so that there is the possibility of creating an additional Urban Planning Authority.
• The updating of building application rights is expected.
• Acceleration and urgent approval of the Operating Regulations of the NGOs is needed.
Regarding funding, he points out:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is expected to proceed with state funding of projects, so that the NOAs are not forced to impose new taxes, such as:
• Repair of regional and biological stations and networks.
• Subsidy for flood protection projects
• Financing of stormwater pipelines of supra-local importance (e.g. Kotsirkas River).
• Famagusta water supply pipeline.
