Council seeks further advice on by-law - 23/06/2006Despite a legal opinion that the council's proposed anti-gang by-law was legally robust, the council will seek further legal advice around the human rights provisions of the proposed by-law.
It is also investigating a proposal to enshrine the proposed by-law within a local bill that could be presented to Parliament.
The proposed by-law has only attracted a few submitters and Mayor Michael Laws said today that it was important "that we get this right".
"I don't want to expose ratepayers to any financial risk from being legally challenged at a later date. It is important that every 'i' is dotted and 't' is crossed. A six week delay – until the next meeting round – will ensure that all the necessary information is gained before council makes its final deliberations."
Mr Laws said that there was widespread community support to ban gang patches and regalia from public places, and that a number of councils had expressed interest in following suit. |
