Summary of Information - Palmerston North City Council

Summary of InformationDraft Animals and Bees Bylaw 2011Reason for the proposalThe Council is reviewing the current Dog Control, Other Animals and BeesBylaw. It has decided to split the existing bylaw into two. Provisions relatingto dog control will be placed in a separate bylaw, following the completion ofthe Dog Control Policy review. Provisions relating to other animals and beeswill be placed in a second bylaw, and is the subject of this proposal. Theproposal is therefore to create a bylaw called the Palmerston North Animalsand Bees Bylaw 2011, and will include conditions for the keeping of stock,cats, pigs, poultry and bees.The reason for the proposal is that the Council was required under section158 of the Local Government Act 2002 to review the Dog Control, OtherAnimals and Bees Bylaw 2004 by 2009. A bylaw which is not reviewed by thereview date is automatically revoked two years after that date. Therefore thisreview is being conducted to make a replacement bylaw before the currentbylaw is automatically revoked.The draft Bylaw contains a few changes. The noteworthy changes include:• Some definitions have been extended, to clarify the scope of the bylaw,such as “Animal”, “Poultry”, and “Stock”.• A new “General” clause has been added, outlining the basic authority ofthe bylaw’s purpose to protect people from health and general nuisancesarising from keeping animals.• Specific conditions have been added to clause 6 relating to the keeping ofstock in the urban area. The current bylaw did not include specificconditions, and was left to officer discretion.• Clause 12 now includes specific conditions for the keeping of bees. Thecurrent bylaw did not include specific conditions and was left to officerdiscretion. The conditions included have been based on current practice.• Clauses 13 and 14 have added standard clauses relating to permits. Thecurrent bylaw did not enable a system for permits, despite empoweringofficers to issue written authorities and permissions. A permit systemensures a transparent process for managing and issuing officialpermission to carry out activities under the bylaw, and allows for the moreefficient monitoring of compliance with the conditions of the Bylaw.

Consultation processAnyone can make a submission about the proposed Bylaw and we encourageyou to give us your views on the draft Animals and Bees Bylaw 2011.The submission period runs from21 May 2011 until 4pm on Thursday, 7 July 2011.You can inspect and obtain a copy of the Statement of Proposal (whichincludes the draft Bylaw), the Summary of Information (this document), and asubmission form at:• Palmerston North City Council websitehttp://www.pncc.govt.nz/YourCouncil/CouncilActivities/PublicConsultation/• Contact Service Centre, Palmerston North City Council, The Square,Palmerston North;• City Library, The Square, Palmerston North, and the libraries at Ashhurst,Awapuni, Roslyn, Linton and Highbury; and• Ashhurst Delivery Centre, 122 Cambridge Avenue, Ashhurstduring normal business hours.You are also entitled to appear before the Council and speak to yoursubmission. Please indicate on your submission form whether you wish to dothis. The Council intends to hear submissions on this proposal at theCommunity Wellbeing Committee meeting scheduled for 1 August 2011. Thedate and time for hearings will be confirmed in the letter acknowledging yoursubmission, and will also be advertised in the Tribune newspaper.To get your submission to us, either:Mail to:Deliver to:Animals and Bees Bylaw Submissions, Governance andSupport Team Leader, Palmerston North City Council, PrivateBag 11034, Palmerston North 4442Palmerston North City Council Contact Services Centre, 32 TheSquare, Palmerston NorthEmail to: submission@pncc.govt.nz (put Animals and Bees BylawSubmissions in the subject)Phone: 06 356 8199Fax to: 06 355 4115Please note that all written submissions, including the contact details on thesubmission, will be made available to the public and media unless youspecifically request that your contact details are kept private.For further information on any this consultation, or any other Council bylaw,please phone the Council on 06 356 8199 or email us at info@pncc.govt.nz