Agenda item
Gambling Policy
(Time allocated – 15 minutes)
Minutes:
Mr Colin Perrins, Head of Trading Standards and Environmental Health Commercial, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report, summarised the salient points contained therein highlighting in particular:
· That the Gambling Act 2005 had been introduced to comprehensively realign legislation relating to gambling, and placed a range of responsibilities on local authorities, but in particular the licensing of gambling on premises within the Borough.
· The Gambling Policy set out how the Council’s responsibilities under the Act would be administered and associated powers exercised. Local Authorities were required to review their Gambling Policy every three years and therefore to adopt a new revised policy by the end of 2009.
· The consultation process in relation to the refresh of the Gambling Policy was prescribed by statute. Only two responses to consultation had been received, neither of which impacted on the current policy.
· The existing Gambling Policy had proven uncontroversial over the past four years, unlike its counterpart the Licensing Policy (regulated entertainment and supply of alcohol). Enforcement action had not engendered any serious problems and Officers therefore considered that the Gambling Policy had served the Authority well.
· Given the response to consultation and robustness of the existing Gambling Policy, Officers were recommending that the existing policy be readopted.
A discussion followed which was centred on the following points:
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the provisions under the 2005 Gambling Act for the Borough to remain “casino free”, the Council’s current neutral position on hosting a casino, the potential for future consideration of hosting a casino in the Borough and the process and consultation required around this.
· Clarification was sought and given as to whether the Children Schools and Families Directorate had been consulted in relation to the refresh of the Gambling Policy, as their comments on the location of gambling establishments in proximity to schools would be welcome.
· Clarification was sought and given as to whether faith organisations, such as churches and mosques had been consulted in relation to the refresh of the Gambling Policy. Noting that the consultation process was prescribed by statute, members of the Committee considered that the Authority should have the option to go beyond the statutory requirements and take local factors into account such as the views of non-statutory consultees. The Committee requested that in any future consultation process in respect of the Gambling Policy the views of faith groups/ organisations, community groups/organisations, young people and elders be sought. It was also considered that the services of the Council’s Consultation and involvement Team be utilised to ensure greater engagement generally and that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider any proposed policy at an earlier stage.
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the proportion of betting shops comprising the approximately 80 premises in Tower Hamlets licensed for gambling. Also the number of new applications for such licenses each year. Members of the Committee subsequently expressed concern regarding the saturation of certain areas with betting shops together with the implications for poverty that this brought. Concerns were also raised regarding the proximity of a number betting shops and amusement arcades to schools, in particular with reference to Roman Road. Clarification was sought and given regarding what measures the Authority could take to safeguard against saturation and to what extent this had been examined in relation to the refresh of the Gambling Policy.
· Consideration that local residents, particularly those from Black Minority Ethnic Communities were not aware of the process through which they could object to the licensing of establishments for gambling, and that work was needed to mitigate this. As a result applications would be granted by Officers without reference to Members, as Members only met to determine applications if an objection had been lodged.
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the source and nature of the two responses to consultation.
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the responsibilities and powers of the Authority in relation to the licensing of gaming machines.
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the ratio of online gambling to gambling in licensed premises in the Borough. It was noted that the Gambling Commission and not the Authority was responsible for the regulation of online gambling, but was also considered that work with other agencies to mitigate the impact of online gambling on local residents would be worthwhile.
The Chair Moved the recommendations, as contained in the report, together with the additional resolution set out at 1. below; and it was:-
Resolved
1. That the advice and comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the review of the Gambling Policy, distilled from their deliberation of the report, be presented to Cabinet for consideration;
2. That it be noted that the Gambling Policy would be submitted to full Council on December 2009 for adoption.
3. That full Council approve the Gambling Policy.
Supporting documents:
- Gambling Policy, item 8.1 PDF 49 KB
- Gambling Policy Appx 1, item 8.1 PDF 154 KB
- Gambling Policy Appx 2, item 8.1 PDF 34 KB
- Gambling Policy Appx 3, item 8.1 PDF 3 MB