-
.
- Русский
Regarding the "Special Report No.TKX/1/2023, Management of State Land Leases", of the Audit Service dated 11.5.2023, the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Cadastre and Land Surveying (TKX) state the following:
The disposal of state land is governed by relevant Legislation and Regulations which derive from Article 54(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.
The disposal of state land is governed by relevant Legislation and Regulations which derive from Article 54(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. According to the legislation in force, the manner of submission and examination of applications, the assessment of ownership and the whole procedure relating to the disposal of State land is expressly provided for by relevant Regulations. The Department of Cadastre and Land Surveying applies the legislation and the allocation of state land is made after approval by the Council of Ministers, after the application has been assessed in accordance with the Regulations, taking into account the physical and legal characteristics of the property, the rules of state aid for payment of market rent/fee for use, where applicable, and the intended use of the property.
The management of state-owned land does not fall within the scope of the Law on the Regulation of Public Procurement Procedures and Related Matters (Law No. 73(I)/2016), nor does it concern the award of public contracts. The regulations governing the allocation of state-owned land are restrictive and are applied following interest from applicants. Policy planning for the use of state land for public interest purposes involves the implementation of political decisions of the Government and is not the responsibility of the Department of Cadastre and Spatial Planning alone.
The Department manages approximately 2,700 leases and permits for the use of State land by implementing a computerised monitoring system and thus limiting potential problems in the management of leases and permits. Lessees/licensees are charged additionally in case of late payment of leases/use fees.
In order to simplify the process and reduce the time required to process applications, the TCF is revising its procedures in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior.
The TCF continuously takes legal action for the collection of overdue rents and for illegal interventions on state land, for dozens of cases in cooperation with the Legal Service of the Republic and in accordance with the instructions of the Comptroller General. For the two cases where a complaint was reported to the Independent Authority against Corruption, the Department took all the appropriate procedures provided for by law.
The TCF always takes into account the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the Republic and takes the necessary actions where required to comply with them. Finally, it is stated that the Ministry of Interior and the CFC have initiated a study to revise the existing Regulations, in cooperation with the Legal Service and other departments, in order to clarify any gaps and ambiguities in the Regulations and to adopt new Regulations, which also take into account the observations of the Audit Office.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
