Issue - meetings
Gambling Policy
Meeting: 04/01/2016 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 7)
7 Gambling Policy Review 2012 -2016 PDF 130 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix One GamblingPolicy2013-16, item 7
PDF 376 KB
- Appendix Two Proposed Changes, item 7
PDF 81 KB
- Appendix Three Equalities Checklist, item 7
PDF 84 KB
- Appendix Four, item 7
PDF 178 KB
Minutes:
The Committee noted that all Local Authorities have to review and adopt a policy every three years which defines how they will administer and exercise their responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005. A statutory consultation process had therefore commenced on the 19th October 2015 which will continue until the 15th January 2016. The policy it was noted had also been to the Licensing Committee on the 8th December 2015. All comments received will be analysed and incorporated into the policy where necessary. Then the policy will finally be agreed by full Council upon the recommendation of the Cabinet.
The main points of the discussion may be summarised as follows.
The Committee:
· Expressed concern regarding the increase in the number of fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT) and wanted to know how this might be addressed;
· Indicated that it wanted to consider this issue again after the consultation. In particular they wanted to consider the impact of the FOBTs upon the quality of life of those poorer residents who gamble; to know what can be done to reach out effectively those individuals with addictive behaviour and how community leaders can be involved; to see what other Councils are doing two address the increase in fixed betting terminals; encourage schools to address the negative impact of gambling through their Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) programmes and accepted that there was an need to have properly evidenced cases to be put forwarded to address these concerns with the relevant bodies;
· Wanted the current consultation exercise to reach out to the greatest number of individuals and organisations within the community;
· Wanted LBTH to lobby central government to make a legislative changes for the future; and
· Accepted whilst gambling cannot be stopped it can be minimised through policies on when and how companies can advertise.