Council approves begging and rough sleeping ban

Tauranga City Council has approved a bylaw to ban begging and rough sleeping from Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton CBDs.

The decision has been made during a council meeting which saw elected members vote 6-5 in favour of the bylaw.

The changes are part of the draft Street Use and Public Place Bylaw which was proposed by councillor Terry Molloy last November.

The stated purpose of the current Bylaw is to ensure; public health and safety is maintained; to protect the public from nuisances; minimise the potential for offensive behaviour; and to manage Public Places for the well-being and enjoyment of the public.

For the past year, council has investigated potential solutions. Between May and September 2018, council received 61 telephone calls relating to begging, of those 61 calls, 34 of them related to behaviour that caused concern.

During the same time period, 107 complaints were received regarding rough sleeping, of which 56 of these calls related to behaviour that caused concern.

Staff and security also recorded 293 sightings of beggars between May and September 2018, of those sightings five disturbances involving beggars were recorded.

Earlier this year the bylaw went up for public consultation which resulted in mixed opinion.

Last week the bylaw was tentatively passed at Council's Community and Culture Committee.

It is set to be adopted from April 1, 2019.

How they voted:

For:
Cr. Kelvin Clout
Cr. Larry Baldock
Cr. Bill Grainger
Cr. Terry Molloy
Cr. Max Mason
Mayor Greg Brownless

Against:
Cr. John Robson
Cr. Leanne Brown
Cr. Steve Morris
Cr. Catherine Stewart
Cr. Rick Curach

More soon...

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6 comments

Interesting

Posted on 20-11-2018 18:43 | By Slim Shady

All the beggars and rough sleepers need to do is take up camp outside the houses of the “fors”.


I am sickened beyond description.

Posted on 20-11-2018 20:42 | By Bruja

HELP our fellow human beings NOT shove them under a bridge. God help you are NEVER put in their position!!! I am not talking about the lazy buggers who just behave disgracefully, I am talking about those, who, for WHATEVER reason, are unable to 'care for themselves'. Maybe it's addiction or mental illness or whatever. LOOK AFTER THEM!!!! I am embarrassed that you can't see the difference between the two groups. Set up a place for the latter group for god's sake! :(


Hey Bruja

Posted on 21-11-2018 08:21 | By Mein Fuhrer

As you are so passionate about looking after them, maybe you should be a good "fellow human being" take them in to your own home.


Hey Mein Fuhrer

Posted on 21-11-2018 11:24 | By Bruja

I can't. I already have family living with me because they can't find a place to rent. :(


Council should have taken legal advice first!!!

Posted on 22-11-2018 14:25 | By jed

You can't stop someone from sitting on a public footpath. This law will fail the first time it is tested in a real court of law. What a waste of resources!


Jed should get a law degree first

Posted on 23-11-2018 16:55 | By Slim Shady

Who owns the “public” footpath? Council. Who passed the by law? Council. Who is going to enforce it? Council. Come back when you have a law degree.


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