27 March 2014

Mayor Lianne Dalziel signals putting a Local Alcohol Policy on hold

Mayor Lianne Dalziel has signalled the Council will be putting a Local Alcohol Policy on hold.

At today's Council meeting, Councillors decided not to accept a Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board request to urgently progress adoption of a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP).

Mayor Lianne Dalziel said the council was putting the matter on hold.

The previous council had adopted a provisional LAP after hearing about 4000 submissions on the alcohol issue.

"There are a number of legal actions being taken in other local authority areas, some of whose policies contain the same or similar provisions.

"The last thing I want to do is to use Council resources and bring in lawyers to fight off challenges now being fought elsewhere.

"A short standstill would enable the Council to absorb the impact of those decisions before deciding how to proceed," said the Mayor.

Under the terms of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 the Council cannot change the form of the provisional LAP. It can decide to notify the LAP or it can discontinue or recommence the LAP development process.

ENDS

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