Download Issue 61 - The Pavement

8 / The Pavement, May 2011something on Twitter from HousingJustice. Iis that what you’re referringto?” and She said she didn’tbelieve there was a council meetingon 4 May (there is), and that nofurther details are yet available.Looking back to a WestminsterCity Council press release from 28February, however, the process isclearer: “Depending on the results[of the consultation, ], it [thecouncil] will then to seek provisionalpermission from the Departmentfor Communities and Local Government[DCLG] to pass a byelawbefore taking it to a meeting ofthe full council in the summer.“If approved, the byelaw couldbe in place by October. Vulnerableindividuals will not be enforcedagainst, and all individuals willbe asked to leave the area beforebeing subjected to any enforcement.”The next meeting of the fullcouncil after 4 May is on 20 July atCouncil House, Marylebone Road.The Public Law Project (PLP), a legalcharity concerned with access tojustice for disadvantaged groups,is advising campaigners on thepossibility of legal challenge tothe passing of the byelaw. PLPsolicitor Jo Hickman confirmedthat PLP had concerns as to thelawfulness of Westminster’sproposals and would be pleased tooffer campaigners legal support.Ms Hickman told The Pavement,“This unprecedentedproposal seeks to criminalise actsof charity. If that were not badenough, the proposed byelaw is sowidely drafted it also criminalisesa host of other entirely innocentactivities. Councils are not lawfullyempowered to pass byelaws thatare oppressive, and as such weconsider there may be grounds toseek judicial review of any decisionto implement this proposal.”We asked DCLG for their standon the byelaw, but wasere justsent their previously releasedstatement: “Local homelesscharities and Westminster Councilbelieve that food handouts actuallyencourage people to sleeprough in central London, withall the dangers that entails.“There is no need for anyoneto sleep rough in Westminsteras there are a range of servicesthat can help the vulnerable offthe streets, and assist them makethe first steps towards gettingtheir lives back on track.”Asked about the process forpassing the byelaw, the spokesmanreplied, “If the byelaw wereto be passed by the council, itwould require DCLG Secretaryof State’s confirmation before itcould take effect. -B but we arestill some way off that stage,if things ever get there.”Carinya Sharples