WCC fails to consult

Stuff reports:

The tills will be quiet in Wellington this Easter Sunday when thousands of cruise ship passengers are in town.

Wellington City Council ran out of time to consult on new trading laws, leaving some retailers angry they won’t be allowed to open this year.

Retail NZ spokesman Greg Harford said the delay meant both retailers and visitors would miss out.

They didn’t run out of time to consult. They failed to consult. Other Councils managed to do so. The law change was known long ago.

Spokesman for the council, Clayton Anderson, said there wasn’t enough time to consult on Easter opening for next month but it would review the laws and consult retailers later this year.

In August 2016, Government gave councils the power to decide if shops can open on Easter Sunday.

Is the Council saying seven months is not enough time?

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Milford said the Easter closure was a missed opportunity for city retailers but sympathised with the council.

Earthquake strengthening and other, more important, issues had to be dealt with first, he said.

“Under normal circumstances it would have gone through the process.

Surely the Council can do more than one thing at a time?