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Resolution number AE/2014/19
MOVED
by Member MJ Watson, seconded by Member TH Woolfield:
That the Albert-Eden
Local Board:
a) agrees
with the approach of having two general broad areas and priority overlays
within the proposed policy, noting that this will be much more
straightforward and easier for the community to understand and for the
District Licensing Committee to administer.
b) considers
it essential that the priority overlays are retained in the final policy as
these areas need specific interventions, noting that there is ample evidence
that there is demonstrable alcohol-related harm occurring in these areas (as
shown by police intelligence information) arising in large part from the
density and hours of operation of licensed premises.
c) requests
that the Point Chevalier Priority Overlay be extended from its present
boundary to the intersection with Motions Road, noting that there already is
an off-licence on the intersection immediately across the road from the
proposed boundary of the Priority Overlay and suggest it would be more
practical to move the boundary to Motions Road.
d) strongly
supports the proposal for a freeze in the priority overlay areas noting that,
in Section 3.3 and sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of the Proposal, the freeze is
designed “to limit the further the [sic] proliferation of licences and to
minimise alcohol-related harm.”
e) considers
that rather than beginning with a two-year freeze that automatically expires,
the freeze should last as long as it takes to see a significant reduction in
alcohol-related harm in these areas. Before the temporary freeze is lifted,
there should be a review that includes all available evidence, input from the
local board and a specific decision by the governing body.
f) considers
that the rebuttable presumption is an excellent tool and needs to be retained
in the final policy, noting that it is a good safeguard for neighbourhood
centres which are prone to the proliferation of liquor outlets often because
of deteriorating economic conditions.
g) accepts the
evidence that with an increase in liquor outlets there is price competition
and the increased availability of low-priced alcohol.
h) notes that
there needs to be a high threshold for decisions to grant a licence where the
rebuttable presumption applies.
i) supports
the introduction of Environmental and Cumulative Impact Assessments, and the
sensitive site assessments and considers that the proposed list of sites to
be considered sensitive is adequate.
j) considers
that the introduction of Environmental and Cumulative Impact Assessments
needs to be supported with good advice on its use, noting that it is important
that it does not deteriorate into a tool for drafting mitigating conditions
and that it is used to support a simple yes/no decision on a licence
application.
k) considers
that training for the District Licensing Committee members be developed and
put in place to ensure the proper use and understanding of Environmental and
Cumulative Impact Assessments.
l) considers
that there also needs to be a programme of review and a timetable for the
assessment of Environmental and Cumulative Impact Assessments as it is the
most experimental element of the proposed policy.
m) supports the
proposed off-licence opening hours with a commencement of no earlier than
9.00 a.m. and a closing time of 10.00 p.m.
n) agrees with
the provisions for on-licences, and supports shorter opening hours in Area B
than in Area A.
o) supports in
general the proposed provisions regarding club licences, with the following
caveats:
i. the
Board does have considerable concern about some clubs for which alcohol sales
and consumption should be an ancillary activity but which frequently seems to
have become the dominant activity.
ii. clubs
located on Auckland Council parks and reserves should have the following
liquor license hours: Sunday to Thursday 9.00a.m. to 9.30p.m.; Friday and
Saturday 9.00a.m. to 10.30p.m – and that extensions past this period require
a special license.
p) generally
supports the proposed case-by-case approach to special licences, however, the
board is concerned about the potential impacts of special licences on
neighbouring residential areas.
q) suggests
that proximity to residential areas and the likely impacts of noise or other
disruption on neighbouring residential areas need to be addressed in the
conditions when a special licence is considered.
r) supports
the provisions regarding applications for extending opening hours and
requests that they are publically notified and that any extensions undergo a
review process to ensure that operator continues their previous good practice
and that the extension of hours continues to be justified. Any extensions
need to be supported by the non-regulatory arm of Auckland Council, through
the application of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.
s) recommends
that the time limit for litter being removed from public areas adjacent to or
associated with licensed premises be reduced to two hours. Twelve hours can
mean that litter, bottles, vomit, etc., are still on public areas well into
the following day and can be affecting the amenity of town or neighbourhood
centres or be affecting sports ground or children’s play areas.
t) supports
the proposed discretionary conditions.
u) makes the
following comments on other matters:
i. that the council collect and report on numbers of applications,
the proportions that are approved and disallowed, the location of
applications, etc.
ii. that the policy includes the requirement that all applications for
licences and all applications for the renewal of licences be publicly
notified, as a minimum in the local newspaper which is distributed to the
most residences and business around the location of the application.
iii. considers that additional tools are needed alongside the Local
Alcohol Policy, for example, for dealing with specific issues such as
alcohol-fuelled parties that spill out into public areas with associated
noise, anti-social behaviour and damage.
iv. requests a cohesive, Auckland-wide approach to applying, reviewing
and monitoring the success of liquor bans in reducing alcohol-related harm in
the community.
v) thanks
Belinda Hansen, Principal Policy Analyst, for
her attendance.
CARRIED
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