Agenda item

To receive a report from the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory in relation to the current review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy.

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised Scrutiny Board (Strategy and Resources) that the triennial review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy was underway with public consultation having taken place.

The Board were requested to consider the contents of the report and provide comments or recommendations to Executive Board in line with the Budget and Policy Framework.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr James Lewis - Executive Member for Resources and Sustainability

·  John Mulcahy – Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory

·  Susan Holden – Principal Licensing Officer

Members were advised that the amended Policy had been before Licensing Committee who were supportive of the amendments.

Members were provided with a brief summary of the changes. It was noted that there had been a number of issues that had come to the attention of councils nationwide. The main issue was the increase in the number of Fixed Odds Betting terminals in deprived areas, which the Council has continued to lobby against. Members were advised that although there had been no significant change in the number of betting shops, there had been more premises opening in deprived areas, although not recently.

It was noted that since the last review, the Large Casino had opened. Linked to this, Members were informed that the Council had commissioned research from Leeds Beckett University to identify problem gambling in Leeds. The research detailed a number of groups that were vulnerable to problem gambling and this information had been included in the revision of the policy.

In response to Members concerns at the low response rate to the consultation the Board was informed that this was in fact a good response rate. The consultation had run from mid-June to early August 2018, and had been advertised by way of letters and emails to 696 businesses, ward councillors, MP’s, parish and town councils and support organisations.

The Board was also advised that licensing working group worked closely with support organisations during the review of this policy and it was suggested that this may be the reason that responses had not been received from support organisations. An invitation was extended to all Board Members to attend the next meeting of the licensing working group to observe the interaction with support organisations.

Other key areas of discussion were:

·  Detailed definition of sensitive areas as part of risk assessment including places of worship and schools;

·  Information on age verification and the public consultation launched by the Gambling Commission on age and identity verification procedures in online gambling;

·  Research and information on domestic violence linked to problem gambling;

·  The consideration of the accumulation of betting premises in certain areas by premises when completing local risk assessments;

·  The protection of vulnerable groups and particularly children as part of the revised local risk assessment requirements set out within the Policy;

·  Utilising the Newport CAB guidance leaflet, which was held up as good practice.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the report to Executive Board in October 2018 reflects the consultation held with the Scrutiny Board on the revised Policy.