Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 25th January and 22nd May 2024.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 25th January and 22nd May 2024 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chair.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, other registerable and non-registerable interests in relation to any Agenda Item. See Notes below.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report on the proposed Gambling Act – Statement of Principles for 2025-28 following the public consultation and to recommend its approval to Council.

Consideration was given to a report by the Licensing Manager (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 outlined the principles which the Council proposed to apply when exercising its functions under the Act. The Council was required to undertake a review of the Statement every three years, with the last review having taken place in 2021. During which time there had been no updates to the Gambling Act.

The Committee were advised that the current Statement was scheduled to expire on 30th January 2025 and subject to approval by the Committee would be considered by the Council at the meeting on 11th December 2024. In terms of proposed changes to the Statement, the Committee were advised that these were minimal and limited to updating policy dates and updating email and contact details. Members were advised that a white paper outlining the government’s plans for reform of gambling regulation had been delayed following the recent change in Government which might necessitate further changes later in the year.

Consultation on the draft Statement had taken place between 27th August and 25th September 2024 in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines and Section 349 of the Gambling Act and no responses had been received as part of this process.

In considering the contents of the draft Statement, Members commented on the need to check the location of Hail Weston in Appendix A and update the addresses of the Responsible Authorities within Appendix B of the report.

Having noted that should the Council fail to have a policy in place by 31st January 2025, then it would be unable to fulfil its licensing duties under the Act, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the Community Services Manager be authorised to make any minor amendments to the Policy; and

b)  that the Council be recommended to approve the Statement of Principles 2025-28 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report now submitted.

To consider a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager detailing meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee which have taken place since the last meeting of the Committee.

With the aid of a report by the Elections and Democratic Services Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Committee noted the details of eight meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee which had taken place since the last meeting of the Committee.