3. The Rev Neil Flower asked -

Considering that the Glebe Administration Board has a policy of not investing in and making money from the manufacture or sale of drugs and/or alcohol -

(a) Does the Standing Committee have a similar policy?

(b) If not, has such a policy been considered?

(c) If yes, what was the criteria used for either acceptance or rejection of such a policy?

(d) Does income received from the rent from the licenced liquor outlet in St Andrew's House go to "Anglicare" or other organisations for the rehabilitation of those whose lives have been blighted by liquor?

(e) Have there been any studies made as to the desensitizing effect such open sales of liquor may have on causing future drinking problems in the students at St Andrew's Cathedral School?

To which the President replied -

I am informed that the answers are as follows -

(a) Yes. A copy of the policy will be posted with the answer to this question.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) The Town Hall Arcade Ordinance 1998 was passed by the Standing Committee on 24 August 1998. The effect of the ordinance was to remove the prohibition on the sale, distribution and consumption of liquor in or from premises in Town Hall Square.

This amendment was considered to be consistent with Synod resolution 13/96 -

"This Synod...encourages the Standing Committee to change the 'Social Covenants' which must be included in leases, so that church trust property can be leased for the conduct of licenced restaurants, subject to the consent of the parish council (if any) for which the trust property is held.".

At the time the Glebe Administration Board was in the process of procuring pre-leasing commitments from potential tenants for the food court in Town Hall Square. Some tenants were hesitant to enter into a commitment while the question of the sale of liquor in the food court was unresolved. Some would not lease or only lease upon the payment of a lower rent if the sale of liquor in the food court was not allowed. It was therefore considered desirable to permit the sale of liquor for the financial viability of the food court.

(d) Not directly. The income received from the Town Hall Arcade is shared equally by the Endowment of the See and the Glebe Administration Board. The Board's share of the income forms part of the income made available to the Synod.

(e) Not to our knowledge.