The Christchurch City Council today approved for public consultation the first of a series of new policies for the management of its public places.

Following the adoption of the Public Places Bylaw 2008, the Council identified the need to review all related operational policies, including policies and procedures from former Banks Peninsula District Council areas now administered by the Council. The new policies will be integral to the effective enforcement and management of the Bylaw.

The Council is seeking feedback from interested parties on the first of the new policies, the Trading and Events in Public Places Policy, which seeks to replace six current policies related to specific activities in public places with an updated single policy to cover the whole of the Christchurch City Council district.

Submission on the proposal will be accepted from 3 March to 8 April 2010.

The Council considers the proposed policy may significantly affect those people who carry out trading and other events in public places, as well as the whole community.

"We would like to really encourage people to have a look at this policy because we want to make sure we get it right," says the chair of the Regulatory and Planning Committee, Cr Sue Wells. "There are a lot of public places activities which are related and the policy needs to be looked at in this light."

The Trading and Events in Public Places Policy sets out guidelines for the management of general trading, mobile and travelling shops, hawkers and display of goods and services for sale. It also integrates guidelines for events in public places, including both formally organised events and community or family/whanau casual recreation activities where dedicated space is required.

Updates to the policy include transferring relevant clauses or incorporating new clauses to cover specific matters currently managed through operational procedures, and the removal of outdated clauses. The inclusion of mobile and travelling shops, hawkers and street performers (which now includes buskers and pavement artists) are the key changes to the updated policy.

The guidelines in the policy work towards ensuring that trading and events in public places enhance the life and attractiveness of an area without inhibiting the safety and efficiency of pedestrian movement and vehicle travel.

The proposed policy will replace the Street Trading Policy, the Stalls in Cathedral Square and City Mall, the Stall Site Licensing Policy, the Victoria Square and Victoria Square Amphitheatre (use of), Busking conditions and the Banks Peninsula District Council Stalls/Market Policy.

Written submissions on this proposal may be made to the Council within the submission period of 3 March 2010 to 8 April 2010.

The submissions may be sent either:

Through the Council's website (www.ccc.govt.nz/Haveyoursay), or

By email to tradingandeventspolicy@ccc.govt.nz, or,

By completing a submission form or in any other written form and post to Freepost 178, Proposed Trading and Events in Public Places Policy, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 237, Christchurch 8140.