Eastern Region Newsletter #2

WORDS FROM THEPRESIDENT

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL WORDSFROMTHE EXEC.SECRETARY

Thesecondpartof2022affordedusthe opportunity to start reaping the hard effortsofearlierandplacedusinaposition to launch as scheduled the planned initiativesnamely:

StarterPack

DespiteourlimitedresourcestheEastern Regional Council's staff still managed to slot in very successfully a number of meetingsandseminarsfocusingonareas ofinterestforourMayorsand Councilors, providingthemwithbetterknowledgeto beabletoassisttheircommunities.

Iexpressmysincerestgratitudetoourstaff and for the continued presence of Hon. ZerafaCivelliandHon.Carabott.

The Eastern Regional Council has faced several changes this past year. It goes unnoticedthatnewchangesbringsnew challenges which inevitably require time andenergytoaddress.

With the help of the newly appointed RegionalManagerswehavemanagedto put the Eastern Regional Council on the map and familiarise ourselves with the community residing within our localities. We have done this by creating several projects and hosting a variety of public events.

AsaRegionwealwaysaimtocontinuously improvethequalityofouractivitiesforthe greatergood.

Mr.AnthonyChircop

Ms.JeanetteGalea

PROJECTS

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

ARTFORALL

Thisprojectisaimedatstudentsbetweenthe agesof11and15inpublicschoolswhowould like to learn arts but have never had the opportunity.

This30sessioncoursestartedon1/04/22and willbeheldinBirkirkaraLocalCouncil'shall.

AttheendofSeptember2022,eachstudent willchooseoneofthedrawingstobedisplayed duringanexhibitionevening.

Sponsor

VeeGeeBeewillbeofferingtheessentialtools required for these sessions. The Eastern RegionalCouncilwillprovideasketchbookto eachparticipantaswellasabottleofwater.

BINSFOR

FollowingtheagreementwiththeCleansing & Maintenance Division, 15 Regional feast/activities across all 12 localities that make up the Eastern Regional Council benefited from this project. From the collectedinformationatotalof295bins(120 litres) were successfully distributed during theaforementioned15feasts/activities.The aimofthisagreementwasmetsinceless waste was deposited irresponsibly on the groundduringevents.

STARTERPACK

All Year 1 students attending school (State, Church & Private) across the Eastern Region benefitedfromtheStarterPackproject,where theyweregivenasetofsustainablestationery. The aim of this project was to raise more awareness about sustainability and that the childrenaswellastheirparents/guardianswill know that there are other, more sustainable optionsonthemarket.

In total 23 schools and 3 catechism centers benefitedfromthisprojectamountingtoatotal of1200students.

BOLOL REĠJONALI

IncollaborationwithMaltaPost

The project was launched officially at the Malta Postal Museum on 21/10/22. and an exhibition was open to the public for a fortnight.

The public's response to the project was positive; thus, the Eastern regional Council decided to make the Two-Gate Folder, Three-GateLeafletandStampsavailableto thepublic.

Kindlyrefertothislink:https://bit.ly/3Ge3iv6 shouldyoubeinterestedinpurchasingaset.

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

NUDGING ACTIVETRAVEL

ActiveTravelWorkshop

InNovember2020theCentralRegionalCouncil signed a contract proving collaboration with University of Malta, supported by Transport Malta, the Ministry of Health, the Environment andResourcesAuthority,thePlanningAuthority andtheOfficeofthePresidentofMalta.

ActiveTravelWorkshopshavebeenorganized around the Eastern Region to identify the measuresrequiredforactivetravelwithinthe locality.Thefinalthirdworkshophasbeenheld on28/10/22.

60+YEARS RESIDENTS

IncollaborationwithNeptunesW.P.S.C.

Followinganagreementsignedbetweenthe CentralRegionCouncilandNeptunesWPSC in November 2021, the Planning Authority's fundswillbeutilisedbythisclubtoheatthe pool during winter through a new pump system which reduces the carbon footprint significantly,resultantlysavingmoney.

Throughacontract,EasternRegion'sresidents aged65yearsoldandover,willbeabletouse the swimming pool during the winter. From the21stofNovember2022tilltheendofMay 2023 the residents will be able to use the heatedpoolatNeptunesW.P.S.C.forFree.This initiativewillbecarriedoutforaperiodof5 yearsandinterestedresidentsarerequiredto registerattheirrespectiveLocalCouncil

REGIONAL CHRISTMASCARDS

DesignbyYanPirotta

ForChristmas2022,theEasternRegionalCouncil has published a set of customised Christmas cardsdesignedbythelocalgraphicdesignMr.Yan Pirotta. The Christmas card features each Local Council's coat of arms in the form of a bauble towardsthebackofthecard. The Christmas cards are printed on Woodstock Betullapaperwhichiscompletelybiodegradable and recyclable paper made from 80% recycled fibresand20%ECFvirginfibres;whilstbeingFSC® certified.

REGIONALWASTE COLLECTION

As of the beginning of 2023 the waste collection schedule is going to be uniform acrossallthelocalitiesoftheMalteseIslands. The new national waste collection schedule includes three days where organic waste is collected(Monday,Wednesday&Friday),two daysweremixedwasteiscollected(Tuesday & Saturday) and one day were recycled waste is collected (Thursday). On the other handglasswillbecollectedonthe1stFriday and3rdFridayofeverymonth.

VISITS

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

BARCELONA CULTURALVISIT

IncollaborationwithArtsCouncilMalta

ThePresidentoftheEasternRegionalCouncil, AnthonyChircop,togetherwiththeMayorof Ta’ Xbiex, Max Zammit, the Mayor of Msida, MargaretBaldacchinoCefai,theMayorofLija, AnthonyDalli,theMayorofSliema,JohnPillow, together with the Executive Secretary of the EasternRegionalCouncil,JeanetteGalea,had theopportunitytovisitBarcelonafollowingthe completionoftheRegionalCulturalStrategy.

This cultural visit was carried out under ESF 04.079"Create2020-Investinginthecultural andcreativecapacityskillsinMalta'spublic sector", a project managed by Malta Arts Council.

BRUSSELS EUROPEANWEEK OFREGIONS

The President of the Eastern Regional Council, Anthony Chircop, attended numerous seminars during the European Week of Regions and Cities whichwasheldbetweenthe10thand13thOctober 2022inBrussels.

ThisyeartheEasternRegionalCouncilpaidforflight tickets for one member from each of the Local CouncilswithintheRegion.ThisRegionbelievesthat the seminars held during this week are highly beneficialtoourMayors,CouncillorsandExecutive Secretaries.Byattendingthisevent,theyaregetting theknowledgethroughbestpracticesfromother citiesandapplyingthemtotheirrespectivelocality forthebenefitoftheresidents.

THEKALEIÇIOLDTOWN FESTIVAL

The7thEditionoftheKaleçiOldTownFestival washeldinAntalya,Turkeyfromthe12th-17th ofOctober2022.Theforum,whichstartedwith the presentation of Mayor Ümit Uysal, was heldthisyearwiththetitleof"Environmentalist Activities for Sustainable Tourism in Living Historical Cities". In the forum, cities shared theirworkandprojectsintheirhistoricalcity centersandarchaeologicalheritagesites

DuringthisvisittheEasternRegionalCouncil's VicePresident,MaxZammit,theMayorofIklin LocalCouncil,DorianSciberras,theExecutive Secretary, Jeanette Galea, and the EnvironmentalManager,AndreaBorgBrincat presented gifts on behalf of the Eastern Regional Council to the Deputy Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Mehmet HacıarifoğluandtotheMayorofMuratpasa Municipality,MrÜmitUysal.

ECOMONDO

The 25th Edition of Ecomondo - The Green TechnologyExpowasheldinRimini,Italyfrom the 8th - 11th of November 2022. The Eastern Regional Council's Executive Secretary , Jeanette Galea, and the Environmental Manager, Andrea Borg Brincat attended the Expo broadening their knowledge on environmentalalternativesandpossibilitiesin differentbusinesssectors.

The benchmark event in Europe for technological and industrial innovation An international event with an innovative format thatbringstogetherallsectorsofthecircular economy on a single platform: from the recovery of materials and energy to sustainabledevelopment.

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL JUL-DEC'22 ISSUE2

On 6th December 2022, the President, Anthony Chircop, together with the Vice PresidentandMayorofTa'Xbiex,MaxZammit, the Mayor of Lija, Anthony Dalli, and AmbassadorofMaltatoEstoniaandFinland, Kenneth Vella were present at the Annual AwardsGala,inBrussels,tobepresentedwith thetitleofEuropeanRegionofSports2023. ThisRegionalCouncilisproceedingwiththe necessarypreparationstocarryoutsporting andinclusiveeventsduringthecomingyear.

Startingfromtheleft::Mr.RyanZammit,Ms. JeanetteGalea,Children'sDreamsRepresentative andMr.AnthonyChircop.

DONATIONS

Duringthisyear,alltheemployeeswhowork withintheRegionalCouncildecidedtoissue amonthlydonationof€5throughoutthis yeartogivetothreecharitiesinDecember 2022.Theseemployeesmanagedtocollect the lovely sum of €645 and the charities chosenwereHospiceMalta,Associationfor Abandoned Animals (AAA Malta), and Children’sDreams.Eachcharitywasgiven theamountof€215.

TheRegionapplaudsalltheemployeesfor thiskindgestureandthanksthemfortheir hardworkthroughoutthisyear.

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

CHESS TOURNAMENT

ForWorldChessDaytheEasternRegionalCouncil organisedaBlitzChessTournamentheldatSwieqi Local Council gardens. The Region collaborated with the Malta Chess Federation, where they providedChessBoardsandTimers. Intotal52individualsragingfromages6-68years participated, and more were viewing the tournament.Thetournamentwasmonitoredbya professional referee, drinks and finger food were alsoprovidedforallparticipants. The3winnersreceivedacustomizedsustainable and recycled 3D printed chess trophy for the occasion. All participants enjoyed themselves and praised theorganisationoftheevent.

WORLDCLEANUP WEEK

ForWorldCleanUpWeektheEasternRegional Council organised/helped to organise seven cleanupsacrossthefollowinglocalities:Il-Gżira, Ħal-Għargħur,Is-Swieqi, Birkirkara,L-Imsida,TalPietàandTa'Xbiex.

WiththehelpoftheNGO''Zibel''Il-GżiraandTa' Xbiex conducted underwater clean ups along the coast, where the total amount of waste collectedwas1979.78kg's. The other localities (Ħal-Għargħur, Is-Swieqi, Birkirkara,L-ImsidaandTal-Pietà),conductedon landcleanups,whereatotalof181fullgarbage bagsofwastewerecollected Asthenumberssuggestthesecleanupswerea success,despitetheirenvironmentalefforts,the eventsservedasasocialactivitywherepeople fromallwalksoflifegottogetherforthebenefitof theenvironment

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

MOVEFOR PINKOCTOBER

IncollaborationwiththeMarigoldFoundation.

For the second consecutive year, the Eastern Regional Council hosted a fundraisereventforPinkOctoberonthe27th of October 2022 at Pembroke Gardens, Pembroke.

Theeventconsistedofanhourmovement class sponsored by District 58; where, female Local Council members and their friendsattendedandmovedinaidofbreast cancerawareness. Atotalof36individuals attended and 390 euros were collected duringtheevent.

Upon registration attendees were given a totebagmadefromrPET,a600mlbottle,a drink,aproteinbar,andsamples

Aspecialthankstoallofoursponsors.

MOVEMBER FOOTBALLFRIENDLY

On Wednesday 16th November 2022 the Eastern Regional Council organised a 5-asidematchatLuxolSportsGround.Allmale Local Council employees were invited to participate in this match. The event was organisedaspartoftheRegion'sMovember Awareness campaign; where, each participantdonated5EurototheMarigold Foundation.Duringthematchrefreshments and protein bars were provided to all attendees. Following the match everyone wasinvitedtodinneratLuxol'srestaurant.

MOVEMBER SNOOKERTOURNAMENT

OnThursday24November2022thisEastern Regionorganisedafundraisereventtoraise awareness about ''Movember''. The Mayors, Councillors, Executive Secretaries and other male workers of the Local Councils making part of the Eastern Regional Council were invited.TheActivitytookplaceat"SocjetaSant Andrija" in Lija. The event consisted of a Snooker tournament; where, participants placinginthetopthreewonapersonalized trophymadefromsustainableandrecycled materials, along with additional gifts. During the activity 3 members of the Marigold foundationwerepresent;where,theygavea presentation on men ' s health. After the activity, a raffle was held, where many gifts werewon.Everyonewhoattendedthisactivity donated€5totheMarigoldfoundation.

Aspecialthankstoallofoursponsors.

Ms.AnnaBonelloBiancoandMr.AnthonyChircop.

REGIONAL SPORTSDAY

On Friday 18th November 2022, the Eastern Regional Council organised the Regional Sports Day. Students from State Schools attendedthiseventandcarriedoutdifferent obstacles and fun games throughout the morning. Allstudentsweregivenatotebag madeout of sustainable material as well as fruit and water.

ThePresidentoftheRegion,AnthonyChircop, the Minister for Sports and Education, Hon. CliftonGrima,ParliamentarySecretaryforthe Local Government, Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli, together with the spokesperson for local government and Public Administration, Hon. DarrenCarabott,werepresentforthisevent.

AspecialthanksgoestotheEducationOfficer for Physical Education in Primary, Mr Marvin Spiteri,andallthecoachesfromMEYRCentre forPhysicalEducationandSportfortheirhelp andcooperationinordertomakethiseventa successful one and all of the students & teachers.

MEETINGS

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

REFORM

Several introductory meetings were held with each Local Council within the Eastern Regionatthebeginningofthislegislature.

Thesemeetingsservedtobetterunderstand thelocalities'problems,aswellastogetto know better Councilors and Executive Secretaries who make part of the Eastern Region

INFORMATION SEMINAR

On Tuesday 12th July 2022 a seminar was organisedincollaborationwithSEMandthe DivisionofLocalGovernment–Strategyand Policy Implementation, at Swieqi Local Council. Thanks to the information shared, the councillors and executive secretaries were able to engage in dialogue and get theirquestionsanswered

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

SLIEMAA.S.C. AGREEMENT

On the 29th of July, the President of the Eastern Regional Council, Anthony Chircop, andtheExecutiveSecretary,JeanetteGalea, togetherwiththePresidentofSliemaAquatic Sports Club, Dr Frank Testa, and the Secretary, Mr Christian Saliba, entered into anagreementsothatthisclubwillbeableto benefitfromthefundsthatareallocatedto each locality under the Planning Authority withtheaimofrepairingandupgradingthe SliemaA.S.C.poolfacilities.

This agreement binds Sliema A.S.C. to providefreeuseofthepooltothoseareover 65 Years old and reside within the Region betweenthebeginningofOctobertheend ofMayofeveryyear.

TheMayorofSliemaLocalCouncil,MrJohn Pillow, and the architect, Perit Joe Bugeja, were also present for the signing of this agreement.

REFORMS& EQUALITY

Onthe3rdofAugust,thePresident,Anthony Chircop,andtheExecutiveSecretary,Jeanette Galea, met with Parliamentary Secretary for ReformsandEquality,Hon.RebeccaButtigieg, inordertodiscusshowtheEasternRegional Councilcancollaboratetogether. We would like to thank Hon. Buttigieg for welcoming us and for giving us the time to explaintheRegion’sgoalsandprojects.

MBA MEMORANDUM

TheMaltaBeekeepers'Association(MBA)isan NGO which aims to safeguard the endemic bee has released a Memorandum of Understandingona level for both Local and RegionalCouncils.AsofSeptember2022,five localities: Iklin, Lija, Swieqi, San Ġiljan and PembrokehavesignedtheMoUwhichstates wildgrasspresentinruralpassagesshallnot becut(unlessposingahazard)tillthe31stof May.

AftertheNovemberRegionalmeetingitwas agreedthattheEasternRegionalCouncilisto signtheMoUasan'Observer',whichmeans thattheEasternRegionalCouncilsupportsthe initiative and therefore agree with the principlesoftheMemorandum.

E-SCOOTERS PRESSCONFERENCE

Onthe5thofAugust2022,apressconference was addressed by the President, Anthony hircop,inthepresenceoftheMayorsofthe cal Councils pertaining to the Eastern gional Council, at Balluta Square in St lian’s. eencouragetheconcernedauthoritiesand ecitizenstoreadthestatementwhichwas adbythePresidentearliertodayinthehope at action is taken immediately before any majoraccidentstakeplace.

EASTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

REGIONALMANAGERS INDUCTIONCOURSELAUNCH

Onthe26thofAugusttheinductioncourse for Regional Managers was launched, which will consist of 16 lectures covering the administrative and technical expectationsof6sectors. Ihopethatthisinvestmentinthehuman resource in the Regional Councils translates into strengthening the good thatisalreadythere,becauseworkersare oneofthemostimportantresourcesfor theeffectiveandefficientimplementation ofstrategieswithinanyorganization.

NATIONALLOCAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGYLAUNCH

On Wednesday 31st August 2022 the Parlamentary Secretary for Local Government, Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli, launched a consultation process with the Regional Councils in preparation for development of the National Local GovernmentStrategy.

The President, Anthony Chircop, as well as the Executive Secretary, Jeanette Galea, werepresentforthislaunch.

NATIONALLOCAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGYMEETING

OnWednesday8November2022thefirst consultation meeting regarding the National Local Government Strategy was held. This meeting was being led by the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Hon. Alison Zerafa Civelli, togetherwiththeDirectorGeneralforLocal Government, Mr. Natalino Attard. The President, Anthony Chircop, together with the Mayors, Councillors, and Executive SecretarieswithintheRegionwerepresent at this meeting in order to submit their opinions.

AUTOMATICPUBLIC CONVENIENCES

On Thursday 17th November 2022, the Parlamentary Secretary for Local Government, Hon.AlisonZerafaCivelli,togetherwiththeLocal GovernmentDivisionannouncedtheschemefor the development and improvement of automatic public conveniences for Regional Councils. The Regional Councils together with their respective Local Councils shall be discussing the best way forward in order to introduce adequate latrines that offer more hygiene, safety, cleanliness and accessibility which are fundamental to human dignity. The PresidentofthisRegion,AnthonyChircop,andthe Executive Secretary, Jeanette Galea, were presentforthismeeting

REGIONAL CULTURALSTRATEGY

Sixculturalstrategiesforeachregionare launchedforthefirsttime

The regional cultural strategies were developed by the Regions and were managedbytheMalteseArtsCouncilin collaboration with the Local Government DivisionandtheLocalCouncilsAssociation. Thesesixstrategieswillserveasaguidefor the regional councils in designing their respectiveculturalprogramforthatyear thatwillhavethetitleof'RegionofCulture'.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES MONTHLYMEETINGS

Towards the last quarter of this year, the PresidentandtheExecutiveSecretarytook upon the suggestion of the Executive Secretaries within the Regional Council to start holding a monthly meeting. Two meetingshavebeenheld,oneinNovember andtheotherinDecember.

Due to numerous projects and initiatives being carried out between the Regional CouncilandtheLocalCouncilspertainingto it,thesemeetingsareextremelybeneficialin making sure that good communication is beingkeptbetweenbothparties.

We would like to take this opportunity to thankalltheExecutiveSecretarieswithinthis Region for their hard work and their immediate cooperation for every issue or projectthatisheld.

Starting from the left: Mr. Anthony Attard, Mr. Etienne Montfort, Ms. Jeanette Galea, Ms. YasmineTonna,Ms.MandyFarrugia,Ms.Cher Fenech,Ms.MariaTanti,Mr.SimonCauchi,Mr. Kevin Borg, Mr. Anthony Chircop and Mr. Alan Vella.

Starting from the left: Ms. Jeanette Galea, Ms. MaryAnnCauchi,Hon.AlisonZerafaCivelli,Mr. AnthonyChircopandHon.OwenBonnici.