Council seeks new bylaw for signage advertising commercial sexual services

The Christchurch City Council will develop a revised bylaw to address the advertising of commercial sexual services that will replace the Brothels (Location and Signage) Bylaw 2004.

The Council yesterday (10 December 2009) accepted a hearings panel’s recommendation to revoke the 2004 Bylaw from 6 July 2011 and have a new bylaw in place before the existing bylaw lapses on 7 July 2011.

In July this year, under the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002, the Council consulted on the revocation of the bylaw, without a replacement bylaw, on the basis that signs advertising commercial sexual services could be controlled more appropriately by other means. The hearings panel’s recommendation was based on submissions received through a Special Consultative Procedure (SCP).

The Council’s resolution requests that staff develop a proposal for a revised bylaw, that will then be consulted on under a further SCP.