Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Patel, for whom Councillor Peacock was substituting as Chair of the hearing in accordance with the provisions set out in the Constitution in respect of substitution arrangements.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with at Item 5 below).

None.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, license, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

None.

The Chair will explain the procedure that the Sub-Committee will follow for each of the hearings considered. A copy of the procedure is attached.

Noted.

To consider an application to provide the provision of facilities for betting, whether by making or accepting bets, by acting as a betting intermediary or by providing other facilities for the making or accepting of bets (a "Betting Premises Licence").

This application must be considered under the three licensing objectives:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime.
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, and
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

The Chair informed the Licensing Sub Committee (the Committee) that a letter dated 25 October 2007, received from William Hill alleged that the premises at 507 Green Lanes were not finished to a degree so that they could be considered for a full premises licence and that the application applied for should have been for a provisional statement.  The Chair requested William Hill to explain the preliminary point that they had raised after the agenda had been received. 

The applicant’s representative questioned whether it was appropriate for this point to be raised at that time as it was raised after the statutory deadline for making representations.  The application was valid and deemed as such and it was not appropriate to raise the point at that stage.  The position was there was no need for any structural alterations at the premises all that was required was residual fixtures and fittings.  The statutory authorities had made no representations and the licensing officer was satisfied.

The representative from William Hill advised the Committee that there was a need for structural alterations which would have to take place at the premises based on the details and photographs of the plans showing the actual unit in question.  The premises were not structurally complete at the moment and there would need to be at least £200K of structural works to be carried out. 

The Licensing Officer advised she had visited the premises that morning and that the premises were structurally ready for use.  Metrobet would need to assure the Committee that there was no further structural works to be carried out at the premises.  The Fire Officer had looked at the premises and had no representations to make.

The Committee agreed to proceed to consider the application. 

The licensing officer presented her report and outlined the following the purpose, principles to be applied by the licensing authority, the recommendations, points: 5.1 – 5.4, 5.10 – 5.13 Ladbrokes had now withdrawn the representations they had made and 5.14.  At 6.10 the officer explained there were representations made by both the trade and interested parties. 

The legal officer drew the Committee’s attention to extracts from the Gambling Commission’s Statement of Gambling Policy (SGP) guidance, particularly to part 5, paragraph 7.49 on page 54, which dealt with the possible relevant representations whether there were too many gambling premises in the locality.  He explained that a representation is unlikely to be relevant if the representation simply states there were too many gambling establishments in the locality but such a representation may be relevant if it points out that the number of gambling premises in the area had resulted in rising crimes and  disorder, under age gambling or problem gambling.

The applicant’s representative addressed the Committee and briefly outlined Metrobet’s history and experience in the betting industry.  He explained how the premises would be operated in line with each of the licensing objectives.  With respect to the prevention of gambling becoming a source of crime and disorder a number of policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To consider any new items of urgent business admitted at Item 2 above.

None.