Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED:      That the Council be invited to adopt the Statement of Principles in accordance with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.

Reason for Decision

It is a Statutory requirement that the Council adopts a Statement of Principles

Councillor Lawrence invited the Environmental Health Manager (Commercial) to present the report which explained that the Gambling Act 2005 required every local authority to agree a Statement of Principles (previously referred to as ‘Statement of Licensing Policy) in accordance with the Statutory Guidance issued under the Act to be in place by January 2016.  The policy had been drawn up in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Gambling Commission and had been subject to consultation.

It was noted that the Joint Panels Meeting had supported the recommendations.

RECOMMENDED:   That the Council be invited to adopt the Statement of Principles in accordance with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.

The above report is on the Cabinet Forward Decision List for 3 November

2015 and has been identified by the Chairman for consideration by the Panel.

The Panel are requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Barrister presented the Cabinet report and explained that the Gambling Act 2005 required all local authorities to publish a Statement of Principles each three year period.  The Borough Council’s current policy was approved by Full Council on 29^th November 2012.

The report set out the organisations and individuals who had been consulted on the revised Statement of Principles and the Barrister explained that the draft Statement had been available on the website and comments had been invited.

The changes to the Policy were set out in the report and related to Local Area Profiling and Small Society Lotteries.

The Barrister explained that the consultation had ended on 9^th October 2015 and no responses had been appended to the report.

The Chairman thanked the Barrister for her report and invited questions and comments from the Panels, as summarised below.

Councillor Smith referred to Local Area Profiling and asked if the Council carried out checks to ensure that they were mitigating risks.  The Chairman explained that checks would be carried out.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development & Environment and Community Panel supported the recommendation to Cabinet as set out below:

That the Council be invited to adopt the Statement of Principles in accordance with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.