Issue - meetings

(Cabinet member responsible: Mrs J Murphy)

Cabinet, at its meeting on 3 December 2015, considered the recommendations of the Licensing Acts Committee, made at its meeting on 24 November 2015, on the Joint Gambling Policy following the statutory consultation.

The report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, which Cabinet considered on 3 December, is attached.

Recommendations to Council: to

(i)            adopt the proposed Joint Gambling Policy;

(ii)        authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy; and

(ii)          authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement)(England and Wales) Regulations 2006.

Kevin Bulmer made a statement that he was a shareholder in a company which was the landlord of a bookmakers’ premises in the district.

Council considered Cabinet’s recommendations, made at its meeting on 3 December 2015, on a statement of licensing policy jointly developed with Vale of White Horse District Council.

In moving the recommendations Jane Murphy, Cabinet member responsible for licensing, thanked the Licensing Acts Committee for its work on reviewing the policy.

In seconding the recommendations David Dodds, Chairman of the Licensing Acts Committee, advised that there were only two changes to the policy both of which will be legal requirements in 2016. There were no other significant changes to the policy other than some very minor wording changes as a result of comments made during the consultation.

RESOLVED: to

1.    adopt the proposed Joint Gambling Policy as attached to the Council agenda for the meeting held on 17 December 2015;

2.    authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy; and

3.    authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement)(England and Wales) Regulations 2006.

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic services.

To consider the recommendations of the Licensing Acts Committee on the gambling policy review and to make recommendations to Council.  The Licensing Acts Committee has recommended the policy as appended to the report. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of legal and democratic services regarding a review of the council’s gambling policy.  The council was required to review the policy every three years.  There had also been a legislative change requiring:

·         local area profiles - councils must publish information on their areas with regard to geography, population information and economic data.  This would allow operators of gambling businesses to complete risk assessments of their operations  

·         operator risk assessments - all operators of gambling businesses must complete a risk assessment of their activities and operations on the local area within which they were based

The Licensing Acts Committee had considered the draft policy and was content with it.  The committee recommended the draft policy to Cabinet.  Cabinet was invited to consider the policy and recommend its adoption to Council. 

Cabinet noted that there had only been one response to the public consultation, which requested minor changes but also provided some additional clarification without impacting upon the council’s policy direction and aims.  Cabinet believed that the low level of consultation responses demonstrated that the policy could be recommended for adoption subject to the identified responses and minor wording changes set out in the report, which had been incorporated into the policy. 

Cabinet supported the draft policy. 

RECOMMENDED:to Council to:

(a)       adopt the proposed Joint Gambling Policy;

(b)       authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to make minor editorial changes to the Joint Gambling Policy in consultation with the Licensing Acts Committee chairman; and

(c)       authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to publish the Joint Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 (Licensing Authority Policy Statement)(England and Wales) Regulations 2006.