Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

that Councillor L W McGuire be elected Chairman of the Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

Councillor L W McGuire in the Chair.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30th June 2021.

Subject to the inclusion of Councillor R J West in the list of those present, the Minutes of the meeting held on 30thJune 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary or other interests in relation to any Agenda Item.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report on the proposed Gambling Act – Statement of Principles  for 2022-25 following the public consultation.

Further to Minute No. 21/6, consideration was given to a report by Operational Manager (People) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a draft Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005. The Statement outlines the principles which the Council proposed to apply when exercising its functions under the Act. The Council is required to undertake a review of the Statement every three years, with the last review having taken place in 2018.

The draft Statement had been approved for public consultation by the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 30th June 2021. Consultation had taken place over a 12-week period between 29th June and 17th October 2021 and no responses were received as part of this process.

The Committee were advised that the proposed Statement had considered changes arising from the fifth edition of the Gambling Commission Guidance to Licensing Authorities, published in May 2021.

In reviewing the content of the draft document and in response to question regarding support for vulnerable people who may be affected by gambling, Members were advised that the District Council was able to signpost vulnerable adults to a range of support services within the area and also provided grant funding to organisations which provide support services. The Chief Operating Officer undertook to provide further details with regards to any measures that Gambling Establishments themselves would be required to take. Comment was also made with regard to the location of gambling establishments, and it was noted that a proposed premises would require a change of use application under the planning process.

Having noted that the current schedule was scheduled to expire on 30 January 2022 and that the Council was required to adopt and publish a new Statement in advance of that date or it would be unable to fulfil its licensing duties, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Operational Manager (People) be authorised to make any minor amendments to the Policy; and

(b)  that the Council be recommended to approve the Statement of Principles 2022-25 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report now submitted.