LGNZ votes in favour of reducing sugary drinks and controlling cats

Councils will be urged to reduce sugary drinks in public facilities and at council-run events through adopting their own voluntary policies.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) voted in favour of a remit, designed to take steps to dial back consumption of sugary drinks, at an annual meeting in Auckland yesterday.

Other remits were around lobbying the Government to: adopt national legislation to manage cats, allow a portion of GST to come back to the region where it was generated, and amend legislation around litter infringements. All of them passed.

The sugary drinks policy, proposed by Hastings District Council, stated all councils should model good behaviour in their communities, provide an example to other organisations and reduce sugar consumption among those who use council facilities.

Christchurch City Councillor Aaron Keown said he and most Christchurch councillors who attended a briefing on the remits last week opposed the sugary drinks proposal.

‘‘I think the last thing the people of Christchurch want right now is telling them another thing they can and can’t do.’’

Christchurch City Council adopted a Healthy Food Action Plan in May this year, which supports increasing access to healthy foods including edible gardens but does not take a position on sugary drinks.

Although the policies would be voluntary, New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Rob Beaglehole said the move would provide a useful inventory of councils which had adopted policies. ‘‘What the remit was doing was getting LGNZ to come up with some policy statements so for the councils that wanted to develop these sugary drinks policies would be able to easily.

‘‘It’s another example of organisations showing leadership and understanding sugary drinks are a major health issue.

A remit on a controversial cat control policy to regulate cat ownership snuck through with 51 per cent in favour. It meant LGNZ would lobby the Government on the importance of implementing the final version of the National Cat Management strategy which recognises both the importance of companion cats and indigenous wildlife to many New Zealanders.

Possible measures would include microchipping, making cats wear bells, desexing and curfews.

The remit came from Dunedin City Council, and stated current law allowed councils to impose controls on cats only to protect people from nuisance, health and safety risks.

The GST remit, proposed by Gisborne District Council, wanted Government to allow a proportion of Goods and Services Tax be returned to the regions in which it was generated, so councils could use it to fund the servicing of visitor infrastructure.

The litter infringement remit, proposed by Palmerston North District Council, asked Government to firm up fining powers for council officers by amending the Litter Act 1979. The act allows for fines to be issued if a council officer sees a person littering, or has reasonable cause to believe they have committed an offence.

‘‘. . . sugary drinks are a major health issue.’’ New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Rob Beaglehole