"We do not need to criminalise passive begging when they don't have any other choice."
Councillor Iona Pannett said there wasn't a "quick fix" for people begging.
"We need to have people housed, clothed and adequately fed.
"Giving money is a short-term fix," she said.
She said stopping people from begging was a "long-term aspirational goal".
Councillor Jo Coughlan said abandoned parking meters should be transformed into "kindness meters" for people to put money into.
"It's an interesting initiative for the creative capital," she said.
The city will work more closely with beggars to help get them off the streets and will report back on progress in six months.
