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The Pavement, May 2011 / 7it would be very difficult for Westminsterto say ‘well, we’re going toban soup runs anyway’. BecauseWwe have to show some kind ofwilling and make an effort to do ittogether and improve services, andthat has to be the way forward.”Westminster City Council haseven showed signs of softeningtheir approach, increasinglyreferring to a preference for anon-legislative approach andproposing in a press release dated29 March to “meet with interestedparties in the coming weeks totry and reach a solution beforeresorting to formal legal action”.Rough sleeping banproposal could bedroppedAs it stands, the byelaw wouldcriminalise rough sleepers and thosedistributing free refreshments in adesignated area around WestminsterCathedral. However, there aresuggestions that the council couldbe planning to remove the clauserelating to lying down, sleeping ordepositing bedding on the street.Mr Murray reported: “Theyare saying ... that they would bewilling to meet and explore anon-legislative solution, but theyseem to me to be fairly sure to begoing ahead – at least with theanti-soup run bit. I think they’regoing to drop the proposal to fightban rough sleeperssleeping.“I’ve heard this from a coupleof different sources, . but I thinkthey’ve realised they’ve theyhave got no support whatsoeverfor that from any organisation...they don’t have support, fromanybody in the field, so they’relooking likeit looks as if they’re onpretty dodgy ground with that.”Cllr Hug echoed this, saying:“My impression is that they maybe more willing to move on roughsleeping because of the overwhelmingopposition, . I meanoObviously there clearly has beenmajority opposition to the souprun ban, but it’s [the rough sleepingban] is not quite clear cut.”Delays and doubts on thefinal decisionWestminster City Council iscurrently compiling some 500responses that it received duringthe consultation, which endedon 25 March. A summary ofthe consultation will be madepublic in due course, althoughwhen is not yet known.After the consultation documenthas been prepared, it will be up toWestminster City Council to decidewhether or not to push ahead withthe byelaw. And if it does, there’slittle chance of it being takendown by Labour, predicts Cllr Hug:“My understanding is that it willgo to full council. Although if I’mabsolutely honest, iIf it goes to fullcouncil ... , it will go through irrespectiveof what I say or what my colleaguessay ... Certainly, in my time– (and I’ve only been on the councilfor a year ),– I’ve never seen a vote.”The decisive council meetingwas expected to take place on 4May. However, this now seemsto have now been delayed. MrMurray wrote to Councillor DanielAstaire, cabinet member for society,families and adult services, offeringto meet to help find a non-legislativesolution. In response, said MrMurray, “he [Cllr Astaire] told methey aren’t going to be votingon it on the 4th of May [but] , it’snot going to be included in thecouncil meeting then, and thathe would be keen to meet.”The Pavement contacted theWestminster City Council pressoffice for confirmation, but onasking when the decision would bemade the spokesperson replied:“Are you talking about... I sawPeter SchofieldAge at disappearance: 70Peter has been missingfrom Harlow, Essex,since 14 May 2010. Hiscurrent whereabouts areunknown.There is great concernfor Peter as hisdisappearance is out ofcharacter. He is urgedto call our confidentialservice Message Home onFreefone 0800 700 740for advice and support.Peter is 5ft 7in tall, of slimbuild with brown eyes andshort dark brown hair.When last seen he waswearing a round neck T-shirt and blue trousers.If you’ve seen Peterplease call the 24-hourconfidential charityMissing People onFreefone 0500 700 700Email: seensomeone@missingpeople.org.uk