Agenda and draft minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and this information was noted.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were none.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with under agenda item 7  ).

There were no declarations of interest. 

There were none.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s Constitution.

There were none.

It was a requirement to regularly review the Council’s Statement of Gambling Policy. The current policy was adopted in January 2021 and is therefore due for review this year, to be published in January 2025. The Gambling Commission had advised Local Authorities to extend their existing policies so as to have a lawful policy in place come January 2025. There were changes expected from Central Government and the Gambling Commission. During December 2020 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) launched a major and wide-ranging review of gambling laws to ensure that they are fit for the digital age. There was a ‘Call for evidence’ and a new Gambling Bill was expected to be presented to Parliament. The Department for Culture, Media & Sport has published a white paper on gambling reform in April 2023 but there had yet to be any changes to the legislation which would not be in place, so a further review may be required in late 2025 to take account of these changes.

The report sought authorisation to take the attached draft policy to public consultation.

There were changes to the proposed policy at this time. The draft revised policy contained more information about the socio-economic make-up of the borough and the impacts of gambling harm in the communities. The Local Area Profile Supplementary document highlights the impact high street gambling premises had on the most vulnerable and ‘at risk’ areas of the borough. The Council considered that it was necessary to manage the impact that facilities for gambling have in areas where its most vulnerable residents may be placed at increasing risk from gambling harm.

All areas shown within the local area profile as being at high overall risk of Gambling related harm, were generally considered inappropriate for further gambling establishments, which could potentially raise the risk of gambling related harm to vulnerable people living in those areas. Operators were therefore asked to consider very carefully whether seeking to locate new premises or relocating existing premises within these areas would be consistent with the licensing objectives and the local risks identified. However, the Gambling Act 2005 still requires the Council to ‘aim to permit’ applications.

All areas shown within the local area profile as being at high overall risk of Gambling related harm, were generally considered inappropriate for further gambling establishments, which could potentially raise the risk of gambling related harm to vulnerable people living in those areas. Operators were therefore asked to consider very carefully whether seeking to locate new premises or relocating existing premises within these areas would be consistent with the licensing objectives and the local risks identified. However, the Gambling Act 2005 still requires the Council to ‘aim to permit’ applications.

The Cabinet Member RESOLVED

1. To approve the 6-week consultation on the draft Gambling Policy 2025-2028 (Appendix 1) and the local area profile (Appendix 2). b)

2. To note that following consultation a further report will be presented for decision to recommend approval to Full Council for final adoption.

Reasons for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

As per item 3.

There were no new items of urgent business.