Agenda item

The Scrutiny Review on the Gambling Inquiry Day. To be introduced by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet to respond to the recommendations of the scrutiny report.

Report of the Director for Public Health.

Cllr Connor, Chair of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel, introduced the  Scrutiny report on  the Gambling Inquiry Day and thanked fellow members, Co-opted members, and all of those who participated in this work.

Cllr Connor continued to provide a background to  the report and recommendations. She outlined that at a meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, in July 2021, when the Council’s draft Statement on Gambling Policy was considered, attracting a deputation from local residents expressing concerns about the proliferation of gambling establishments in Haringey and their negative impact on residents living in deprivation areas. The Licensing Team leader had explained that the legislation limited the ability of local authorities to refuse licenses simply on this basis. It was reported that Westminster City Council had undertaken their own research on gambling harms and that evidence gathered from this research was subsequently used as grounds to refuse a licensing application. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to look into this key local issue and subsequently took forward an Inquiry Day into Gambling held in March 2022. The purpose of the Inquiry Day was to gather evidence on gambling-related harms in Haringey and explore what action could be taken to address this. This had led to the recommendations outlined in the report.

Information was sought from Cabinet on: the progress with a date for taking forward the gambling summit, whether the local residents involved in raising this issue could be invited to the summit, and whether a Member champion had been nominated.

Cllr das Neves Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing introduced the response to the recommendations and thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their work on this key local issue. She continued to outline:

-       That the Cabinet recognised the prevalence of gambling establishments on borough high streets and the growth of online gambling which also needed to be considered.

-       Council offering training on gambling harms to Council officers and had reviewed the offer of Council support available to those experiencing gambling harm in the borough to improve this.

-       Council were working with Gamcare and their partners Gamble Aware to develop a funding bid around both increasing the support.

-       Aim to improve the quality of data, knowledge, and awareness that is available to the Council in order to increase the response to gambling harm in the borough.

-       There would be a Gambling summit in January 2023 and local residents involved in the inquiry day were welcome to attend and participate.

-       Progress being made to recruit a gambling harms champion.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to seek an external funding source for additional local research on gambling harms.

2.    To agree to greater use of education/prevention on gambling in Council activities.

3.    To agree to the establishment of a Councillor as a ‘Gambling Harms Prevention Champion’ to lead any lobbying activity aimed at the government on this issue, and that no special responsibility allowance shall apply to that role.

4.    To agree to note that the functions of the Licensing Authority shall continue to operate in accordance with provisions of the applicable legislation, Codes of Practice and Guidance as well as the Council’s policies pertaining to Licensing and Gambling.

Reasons for decision

The recommendations in the Overview and Scrutiny Report are aligned with the public health team led campaign that is underway.

Alternative options considered

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing could decide not to take account of the findings from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee report; however, the findings confirm the campaign approach taken by the Public Health team.