Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE LICENSING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY MANAGER

The purpose of this report is for the Licensing and Regulation Committee to consider the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Principles prepared by officers, and the public consultation responses, and then recommend the adoption of a final Statement of Licensing Principles to Full Council.

RESOLVED: That the Licensing and Regulation Committee considered the consultation responses and recommended the adoption of the policy appended at Appendix A to Full Council.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: That Council adopts the Statement of Gambling Principles 2025-2028 policy.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

(1)   Licensing authorities are required to publish a policy every three years by virtue of section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”).

(2)   A new policy must be published by 3 January 2025 to comply with this statutory requirement.

(3)   The policy builds on the effectiveness of the existing policy with minor amendments to reflect changes in legislation, statutory guidance, consultation responses and an updated local area profile.

Audio Recording – 1 hour 31 minutes 27 seconds

The Licensing and Community Safety Manager presented the report entitled ‘Statement of Gambling Principles 2025-2028’ and highlighted that:

·       This was a statutory policy which required a review every three years and adopting by Council.

·       Three representations were received from the public consultation, this was higher than in previous years.

·       The Gambling venues in the district were well managed and operated.

·       There was an updated local area profile in the report and this would ensure that any new gambling venues would not be proposed in areas of high deprivation.

·       There had been a Safeguarding update to include, the White Ribbon Campaign, Violence against Woman and Girls Charter and child sexual exploitation.

·       The report covered the required responses to the public consultation representations and it was noted that public health roles were administrated by Hertfordshire County Council.

Councillor Tim Johnson proposed and Councillor Nigel Mason seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the Licensing and Regulation Committee considered the consultation responses and recommended the adoption of the policy appended at Appendix A to Full Council.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL: That Council adopts the Statement of Gambling Principles 2025-2028 policy.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:

(1)   Licensing authorities are required to publish a policy every three years by virtue of section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (“the Act”).

(2)   A new policy must be published by 3 January 2025 to comply with this statutory requirement.

(3)   The policy builds on the effectiveness of the existing policy with minor amendments to reflect changes in legislation, statutory guidance, consultation responses and an updated local area profile.