Agenda and minutes

It was noted that the meeting was recorded for live or future broadcasting on the Council’s website.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Ali Demirci who was substituted for by Councillor Ray Dodds.

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.

There were no urgent items.

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 he 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 judgement 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.

Councillor Reid declared a personal interest as he knew Councillor Karen Alexander, Harringay Ward Councillor, who submitted written representation (page 60 of the agenda pack) in relation to the application.

Councillor Patel declared a personal interest as he knew Councillor Canver, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Enforcement , who submitted written representation (page 48 of the agenda pack) in relation to the application.

The Chair will explain the procedure that the Committee will follow for the hearing considered under the Licensing Act 2003 or Gambling Act 2005.  A copy of the procedure is attached.

The summary of the Committee Procedure – Gambling Act 2005 – Hearings Regulations SI 2007/173, was 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”).

Please note: it being a special meeting of the Committee, under the Council’s Constitution Part 4, Section B, Paragraph 17, no other business may be considered at the meeting.  

The Panel received the application for a Premises Betting Licence for BETFRED, 513 Green Lanes, London, N4 1TA.

The meeting was adjourned at 19.30hrs for the Panel to consider the Betfred brochure and plans which had been recently amended.  The meeting reconvened at 19:45hrs.

The Panel noted the statement of Mark Owen, Solicitor acting on behalf of Betfred, including that: objections to the application did not suggest that Betfred would not be operating in accordance with the licensing objectives, nuisance, demand and planning permission were not valid reasons for refusing the application and there was no evidence that there would be rising issues of crime and disorder. 

In response to questions from the Panel Ismail Goodridge, Betfred Security Manager, explained that Betfred would work with the police to put measures in place such as CCTV and screens due to the high crime statistics in the Harringay Ward area.  It was noted that whilst there had been an increase in the number of betting shops opened in the area (from 4 to 7) recorded crimes had in fact reduced.

In response to questions from interested parties the Panel noted that procedures were in place to ensure under-aged persons were not allowed into the premises and that vulnerable people were protected from harm and staff were experienced.

The Panel noted comments from interested parties, Mr Ian Sygrave (Leader Community Safety Partnership), Mr S Mehmet (Chair of Harringay Traders Association) and Mr Mario Petrou (Local Resident) including that there were already many gambling establishments in within the vicinity, there would be a disturbance to local residents, increased crime and disorder and risks to children and vulnerable adults (a large number of which were in Harringay Ward). The interested parties urged the Panel to refuse the application for a betting premises licence.                                                                                                                                

The meeting was adjourned for a break at 22:40 hrs and reconvened at 22:45hrs.

The Applicant’s representatives offered not to take the opportunity to sum-up if all other parties were in agreement.  Due to an interested party's agreement being reluctant:

The hearing was adjourned at 22:55 hours due to time constraints and reconvened on 11^th February 2010 at 19:30.

The summaries of the all parties were noted and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the Licensing Sub-Committee has fully considered the application, the Applicants’ oral submissions, the Objectors written and oral representations, the London Borough of Haringey Statement of Gambling Policy and the Gambling Commission’s Guidance to Local Authorities, before having reached its decision.

The Licensing Sub-Committee decided to grant the application.

The Objectors representations were given due weight, however, on balance and in light of the lack of representations by the responsible authorities, the Licensing Sub-Committee did not consider the evidence relating to crime and disorder, and children and vulnerable adults to be sufficient to not consider the application being reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives, the Code of Practice and the Gambling Commission’s guidance to Local Authorities.

The Sub-Committee does, however, require two discretionary conditions to be imposed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.