Agenda and draft minutes

None.

Note: It being a special meeting of the sub-committee, under Part Four, Section B, paragraph 17 of the Council’s Constitution, no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

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, licence, 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 Committee will follow for each of the hearings considered under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005.  A copy of both procedures is attached.

Noted.

To consider an application to provide the provision of adult gaming facilities for use of up to four category B machines; any number of category C machines; and any number of category D machines.

The Council’s Legal Representative, Terence Mitchison, outlined to the Committee the three licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005 which are:

(i)                 Preventing gambling from becoming a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime and disorder, or being used to support crime;

(ii)               Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and

(iii)             Protecting children f and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Licensing Officer, Daliah Barrett, presented the her report to the Committee outlining the purpose of the report, the principles to be applied at the hearing, and recommendations from the Licensing Service in respect of the application being heard. Ms Barrett informed the Committee that the were no default conditions under the conditions regulations that relate to adult gaming centres.

There were questions to Ms Barrett on the substance of her report from Ian Sygrave, Mario Petrou and Peter Lorimer.

The Chair invited the applicants to address the Committee. Peter Etchells, representing the applicants, clarified the position on the planning interface with the license being applied for. He also outlined that the license being applied for would require the licensee to adhere to a number of responsibilities for running an adult gaming centre, such as not allowing under-18 years into the premises. The Committee was also informed that the premises would hold 50 gaming machines with a minimum of two staff at all times, and that the trading hours 9am to 10pm everyday – these to be conditions on the licence. There would also be staff training for all staff at the premises. Mr Etchells also advised that the applicant had reconfigured other adult gaming centres in the area. He further advised that the company had installed CCTV to the interior and exterior of the premises and the operation of these were guided by Head Office guidance. The images from these were stored on the hard-disk and available for police inspection. Mr Etchells informed the Committee that the front windows to the premises were obscured to pedestrians on the street.

Mr Etchells noted that the determination of the application by the Committee should follow the guidance of the 2005 Act and “shall aim to permit the use of the premises for gambling in so far as Members think it:

(i)                 in accordance with the relevant Codes of Practice (under s24)

(ii)               in accordance with Guidance by the Gambling Commission (under s25)

(iii)             Reasonably consistent with the three Gambling Licensing Objectives; and

(iv)              In accordance with the Haringey Council Statement of Gambling Policy.

In respect of the representations made by the Haringey Metropolitan Police, Mr Etchells informed the Committee that there was no hard evidence of criminal damage to fruit machines. Mr Etchells continued to list the measures to be taken by the licensee to ensure the licensing objectives were met, namely:

·                    proof of age for over-21s only operated at the premises at all times it is open.

·                    Door supervision would not be necessary and therefore not provided.

·                    Children  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.