Issue - meetings

Consideration of proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) and approval to undertake consultation (report of the Head of Public Protection enclosed)

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Public Protection which considered the proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) and recommended approval to undertake consultation.

The Head of Public Protection introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

• The Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) was the policy that the Council uses to administer gambling licences that the Council is responsible for as the Licensing Authority.
• Legal requirement to review the policy at least every 3 years.
• Minor amendments had been made to the policy for members to consider in order to keep the policy up to date.
• A 6 week consultation process would begin on 27 September and the Council would formally and directly engage with responsible authorities, e.g. Environmental Health, HMRC and the Police, and also current gambling licence holders.
• The Policy would also be available on the website for the public to submit comments.
• The consultation would end on 5 November and the final version of the Policy would come back to the Committee for approval on 11 November.
• The Policy would then be brought forward to Full Council for approval on 24 November subject to Committee approval.
• The Gambling Commission was the overarching authority responsible for operator licences issued to businesses carrying out gambling activities.
• The Licensing Authority (the Council) is responsible for non-remote gambling licences in the district such as betting shops, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, family gaming centres, casinos and racecourses.
• The Licensing Authority sets out the Gambling Policy, considers applications for gambling licences, reviews and revokes premises licences, issue permits for gambling and inspect gambling premises.
• There are 3 Licensing Objectives to consider in relation to gambling:
  • Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime.
  • Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
  • Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Members asked whether current applications would need to be determined under the current policy and if an application for a licence would still be considered if the relevant planning application had been refused.

·         The Head of Public Protection confirmed that any applications submitted prior to the publication of the new Policy in January 2022 would be considered under the current Policy and that Planning and Licensing applications are considered as separate applications.

The Licensing Officer set out the recommendations for existing policy amendments:

·         Number of Gambling Authorisations

o   The updated policy would detail licence numbers for 2021 which would show a reduction in numbers from those detailed in the current policy following the closure of some businesses due to Covid.

·         General Principles

o   The wording in this section would be reinforced and a paragraph would be added to state that moral objections to gambling would not be accepted when considering a gambling licence application.

·         Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre Gaming Machine Permits and Prize Gaming Permits

o   A basic DBS check would need to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3