Issue - meetings

To receive an update on the Scrutiny review of clustering in betting shops in Haringey.

Members are asked to comment on the progress of the implementation of recommendations.

Eubert Malcolm provided an update on the progress of the scrutiny review on the clustering of betting shops.

NOTED:

·               Recommendation1 would form part of a consultation due late 2013.

·               Recommendation 2 – betting establishments had been approached, however they were already in contact with the police and so did not want to duplicate the ‘supervision process’

·               Recommendation 3 – a stakeholder event was due in Spring 2013

·               Recommendation 4 – Councillor Canver had lobbied, but no changes had been made.

·               Recommendation 5 – DCMS had carried out a consultation seeking views on the correlation between fixed betting terminals and gambling.  There was a three month review.

The local police consider the layout of proposed betting shops in order to ensure that they minimise anti social behaviour and crime in the area.

It was noted that:

·               A clear line on ‘no clustering’ of any retail sector would not necessarily be beneficial to Haringey given the fact that some parts of the borough are specifically identified as being a good place to go / shop for certain things.

·               Planning permission was needed to move from one licensing class to another, however betting shops often moved within A2, and therefore an Article 4 direction would not necessarily help.  If there was an application to move from A1 to A2 then more action could be taken.

·               The Gambling Act stated that Local Authorities should ‘aim to permit’ gambling establishments.

·               Regeneration were currently having conversations with a number of landlords with a view to discouraging them from letting their premises to gambling establishments.

Councillor Winskill commented on the Cabinet Member introduction and expressed his disappointment of the political tone of it given the non party political nature of Overview & Scrutiny.  Councillor Rice advised Councillor Winskill to raise this issue directly with the Cabinet Member.

ACTION:

It was requested that the relevant scrutiny body be provided with regular updates on the liaison with local police on betting shop premises.

ACTION: Daliah Barrett