Agenda item

The report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration advises Members of an application made under Part 8 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) for the grant of a betting premises licence in respect of 86c Queen Street, Morley, Leeds LS27 9BP.

(Report attached)

The submitted report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration advised Members of an application under Part 8 of the Gambling Act 2005 for the grant of a betting premises licence in respect of 86c Queen Street, Morley, LS27 9BP.

John Blowe of Yorkshire Evening Post attended the hearing for this item.

Members heard that the application had been made by Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, T/A Betfred, Spectrum, 56-58, Benson Road, Birchwood, Warrington, WA3 7PQ.

Members were advised of the following points:-

·  This was the first application under the Act for the premises;

·  A plan showing the proposed internal layout was attached at Appendix 1 of the submitted report;

·  A map identifying the location of the premises was attached at Appendix 2 of the submitted report;

·  Under the requirement of the Act notice of the application had been served on the responsible authorities, advertised in a local newspaper and displayed on the premises for a period of no less than 28 consecutive days;

·  The application had not received any representations from any responsible authorities as listed at 4.2 of the submitted report;

·  Representation had been received from Cllr. Finnigan an Elected Member. He had raised concerns in relation to the number of betting shops in Morley and the negative impact on local children and young people; and

·  The Local Area Risk Assessment (LARA) was attached at Appendix 6 of the submitted report and formed part of the circulated supplementary information.

In attendance at the hearing on behalf of the applicant were:

·  Mark Owen – Solicitor

·  Stuart Divitt – Betfred

Mr Owen apologised for an error on page 29 of the circulated supplementary information at paragraph 2.2 as it referred to an application granted in Batley by Kirklees Council.

Mr Owen informed the Members of the following points:-

·  Betfred currently trade 21 licences in the Licensing Authority’s area;

·  Betfred was the country’s 3^rd largest bookmaker operating 1667 shops nationwide;

·  The location around Queen Street, Morley currently has 3 betting premises operating, 2 William Hills and a Ladbrokes. It was noted that Coral betting premises had now closed;

·  Security was paramount with the premises benefitting from the following:-

o  CCTV – 6 cameras installed internally

o  Monitoring screen behind the counter

o  Premises fully alarmed

o  Shutters for the counter

o  Panic alarms

o  Time delayed safe

o  Key to be issued by staff for customer toilets

o  24 hour security

o  Security manual

·  Use of Think 21;

·  No person under 18 years of age to be permitted in to the premises;

·  A 10 year lease had been taken on the premises; and

·  The shop would employ 3 full time staff and 2 part time staff who would be recruited from the local area and would receive sufficient training at other Betfred shops. The Shop would have an experienced deputy manager.

Mr Owen explained that Betfred used the self-exclusion scheme within their shops and how it worked. It was noted that other betting premises may use MOSES, Betfred would consult with those premises in the area and assured Members that the self-exclusion scheme would be adhered to.

Mr Owen provided Members with proposed opening hours as follows:-

Monday to Saturday 08:00am – 22:00

Sunday 09:30am – 22:00

In response to Members questions the Licensing Sub Committee were informed that there was no direct view into the shop or any images in the window which would entice children or younger people into the shop.

It was suggested that often the external area of betting premises can become littered and unclean; in response, Mr Owen offered a measure to ensure that the front of the premises would kept clean and tidy.

Mr Owen highlighted some proposed measures which were listed on page 33 of the supplementary information at paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2.

RESOLVED – To grant the premises licence subject to the incorporation of the proposed measures at paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the Written Submission at page 33 of the Supplementary Information as conditions of the licence.