Development Planning Act (Cap. 552), article 38

38. (1) The functions of the Executive Council shall be the following: (a) to provide a centralized office for the receipt and processing of development applications; (b) to provide a centralized office for the receipt and processing of complaints, reports and assessment of information, related to alleged breaches of the provisions of this Act, and to co-ordinate investigations undertaken by the competent authorities whenever the Authority is of the opinion that a breach should be pursued by enforcement action or other remedies; (c) to formulate, implement and update plans and policies relating to the promotion of proper land and sea use, both public and private; development planning of land and at sea, both public and private; and such other matters as may be necessary, ancillary, incidental or DEVELOPMENT PLANNING [CAP. 552. 23 conducive to the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act, whilst taking into account the protection and management of the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources; (d) to enforce the control of such development in accordance with plans, policies and permissions in terms of this Act; (e) to carry out national mapping, including carrying out land surveys of specific areas and keeping up to date the national geographical database to undertake the functions mentioned in this sub-article; (f) to regulate alignment and levelling schemes and their interpretation on site; (g) to seek the co-operation of, or make arrangements with, other entities or persons to enable it to better monitor the implementation of, and compliance with, the provisions of this Act; (h) to establish long and short term objectives and strategies for the proper administration of the Authority; (i) to advise the Minister on the making of guidelines and regulations under this Act; (j) to provide support and advisory services, relating to development planning on land and at sea in a sustainable manner, to Government and local authorities in relation to the performance of their functions; (k) to undertake research and conduct consultations with Government departments, non-governmental organisations, private organisations and international organisations and other persons relating to the development of planning methods and models relating to development planning on land and at sea and any other related matters; (l) to publish and update, as circumstances may warrant, an official manual, which shall be published and updated in electronic format or in any other format as it may deem necessary, containing such matters as the Minister may prescribe and which shall be made available to the public, provided that: (i) no plan or policy or amendment thereto shall have effect unless it is approved in accordance with the provisions of this Act and published in the official manual; (ii) a plan or policy or an amendment thereto, as the case may be, shall be published in the official manual within one month from the date of its approval in terms of this Act; (m) to make orders under this Part of this Act; (n) to issue technical guidance documents as may be 24 [CAP. 552. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING required from time to time; (o) Repealed by Act XXI.2022 .5. (p) to appoint from time to time sub-committees for the purpose of compiling technical reports and, or identifying procedures to be adopted. (2) In the execution of its functions under this Part of this Ac t, the Executive Council shall consult with the Minister, and it s hall have and may exercise all or any one or more of the powers vest ed in it or entrusted to it by this Act. Establishment of Directorates.