Manchester council looks set to scrap a controversial ‘aggressive begging’ ban in the city centre after a fierce political backlash earlier this year.
The M.E.N. understands the town hall’s Labour leadership plans to remove any reference to begging from the authority’s proposed ‘public space protection order’ , which intends to introduce £100 fines for a range of different behaviours.
That had drawn fierce criticism when it was unveiled February, including from human rights campaigners and the Liberal Democrats.
A new draft expected to go before Labour members in private over the next few weeks now shows one of the most contentious elements has been removed.
It has cut a clause that originally said: “No person shall beg for money or any other item in a public place in the ‘restricted area’ [the city centre] in a manner that causes or is likely to cause nuisance, annoyance, fear or distress for or to any other person.”
The new draft still includes a ban on ‘obstructing’ the entrance or exit to any building or stairwell, or anything that could block street cleaning, pedestrians or vehicles.
It also still features a ban on public urination or defecation, the discarding of hypodermic needles anywhere other than a sharps bin, or putting up a tent or ‘other temporary structure’ that could attract vermin, or be likely to create a health and safety risk.
But the begging clause, branded a ‘homeless tax’ during the local elections and criticised by organisations including Liberty , which had threatened legal action, has now been removed.
The PSPO had gone out to consultation in late February, prompting a campaign from the Liberal Democrats against the move during the local elections.
It is understood many of the proposals contained within it had considerable support among city centre residents, in particular the public urination and discarded needles bans, which both saw 87pc in favour.
The level of support for an aggressive begging ban remains less clear, but the Labour leadership appears to have shifted position as a result of high-profile campaigns in the wake of the consultation’s launch.
Aside from the begging clause, the rest of the draft PSPO remains the same.
The M.E.N. understands city centre councillors have asked for costings to be carried out on a 24-hour toilet near the town hall in order to ensure homeless people are not penalised for having nowhere else to go.
Labour councillors are expected to discuss the amended proposal at their October meeting.
It may then go before a council scrutiny committee, although there do not appear to be any plans to table it before the executive.
The council has not as yet provided full details of the consultation responses.
