Thursday 12 June 2014

Key decisions from today’s Council meeting

Christchurch City Council met today, and made the following key decisions:

Support for Phillipstown School
The Council agreed to approach the Government and express support for Phillipstown School Board of Trustees' request for a two year reprieve on their merger with Woolston School.

Hampshire Street reserve named
The reserve on the corner of Hampshire Street and Wainoni Road will be named Rīpene Mā, which is the literal Maori translation of white ribbon. This name was suggested to recognise violence against women, as marked on White Ribbon Day each November.

Council approve flood stopbank in Belfast
The Council approved plans to work with Environment Canterbury to introduce a flooding stopbank in Darrocks Reserve, located off Main North Road in Belfast. Constructing this secondary flood stop bank will help prevent sawn timber, from the neighbouring sawmill, from floating downstream and creating blockages under flood conditions. The flood stop bank will also protect the site from the impact of flooding.

Canine companion inspires naming of reserve
A reserve at 160 Chester Street East will be named Chesterfields. The original property on the site was also named Chesterfields, after the original owner’s three-legged German Shepherd dog called Chester.

Christ’s College legalise their 135 years on South Hagley Park
The Council will grant a lease to Christ’s College to legalise their 135 year occupation of part of South Hagley Park. As part of the Hagley Park Management Plan 2007, a lease is required for the sport ground area and buildings built and managed by Christ’s College.

Cash carried over for Culture Galore
The Council agreed Fendalton/Waimairi and Riccarton/Wigram Community Boards will each carry forward $8928 to contribute to next year's Culture Galore festival. The 2014 celebration of Culture Galore – an annual event celebrating the ethnic diversity of Christchurch that attracts up to 7000 people a year – was cancelled due to poor weather. The 2015 Culture Galore is scheduled for Saturday 7 March.

Freedom camping pilot programme
The Council backed a new pilot programme that will see a part-time staff member working with freedom campers during the high season. The approach involves education, monitoring and compliance. Staff will report back after the pilot ends in March 2015.

International travel approved
The Council approved travel by the Mayor and appropriate elected representatives on the Sister Cities committees to support the city’s international relations.

Bishopdale Community Centre and Library and Sumner Community Centre and Library
The Council referred a decision on the future of the Bishopdale Community Centre and Library and the rebuild of the Sumner Community Centre and Library to its Annual Plan process for consideration. The Annual Plan meetings are due to take place later this month.

Speed limit review on Linwood Avenue
The Council agreed to begin public consultation on a proposed speed limit change to a section of Linwood Avenue. The proposed change is due to potential confusion about the speed limit at the intersection of Dyers Road and Linwood Avenue.

Development Forum to get underway
The Council will run three or four informal workshops a year with members of the development community to promote the free and frank flow of information and advice. Funded from existing budgets, the forum will comprise five Council members and five business community representatives. The forum will discuss the administration of development contributions along with planned developments, the progress of the Council’s capital works and rebuild initiatives.

Consultation on draft psychoactive policy to proceed
The Council agreed to proceed with public consultation on its draft Psychoactive Products Retail Location Policy. The consultation will run from 3 July until 4 August 2014. The draft policy aims to restrict where retailers can sell psychoactive products such as party pills and herbal highs. The Council paused plans for its consultation after the Government passed the Psychoactive Substances Amendment Act last month. The Act has effectively banned the sale of psychoactive products in New Zealand until Ministry of Health regulations are put in place. This is expected to happen by mid-2015.
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