Agenda and minutes
Venue: Board Room 3 - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Joe Kwateng, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1354, Email: joe.kwateng@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Minutes: None declared. |
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Minutes of the last meeting - 26 May 2015 PDF 56 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015 be approved as a record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising Minutes: None. |
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Statement of gambling principles PDF 107 KB The London Borough of Brent is a Licensing Authority under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act). Section 349 of the Act requires Licensing Authorities, to prepare and publish every three years a Statement of Principles that sets out their policy for dealing with applications and regulating gambling premises within their borough. The Act also requires licensing authorities to keep the Statement under review from time to time.
I have attached the relevant appendices to the report. Additional documents:
Minutes: Yogini Patel (Senior Regulatory Services Manager) introduced the report. She informed members that Brent, as a Licensing Authority under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act), was required to prepare and publish a Statement of Principles (the Statement). The Statement set out the Authority’s policy for dealing with applications and regulating gambling premises within the borough. The Act also required Brent Council, as a Licensing Authority, to keep the Statement under review from time to time and in so doing, to adhere to regulations and have regard to the Gambling Commission’s Guidance.
She continued that the Statement was required to have regard to and, be consistent with the following three objectives of the Act: Prevention of gambling from being a source of crime and disorder; Ensuring that gambling was conducted in a fair and open way; and Protection of children and other vulnerable persons from harm or exploitation.
During debate, Councillor Bradley enquired about the effect on crime rates in areas where was a significant number of gambling premises and what would happen in areas of high density gambling premises. Questions were also asked about judicial review and in reference to the appendix to the report, Kansagra suggested the re-insertion of the paragraph relating to judicial review.
In responding to the above, the Senior Regulatory Services Manager advised that the Authority could not consider moral objections, planning status of premises and the level of demand or saturation of gambling premises when dealing with an application. She added that gambling operators had set up a watch group which analysed premises based crime and assessed what the operators could do about vulnerability. She also advised that the appeal procedures set out in the Act were deemed sufficient and that aggrieved persons were allowed to appeal to the Magistrates’ Courts. She continued that a new database was in place which would enable automatic notification to ward members. Members heard that the Authority was required to publish the revised Statement for four weeks and make it available for public inspection prior to its coming into effect on 31 January 2016.
RESOLVED:-
that the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles (31 January 2016 – 31 January 2019) be approved for consideration by Cabinet on 16 November 2015 and prior to final approval by Full Council on 23 November 2015.
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New Statement of licensing policy PDF 87 KB The Licensing Act 2003 (‘the Act’) requires that the Council determine and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy (‘Policy’), at least once every 5 years, setting out its policies with respect to the exercise of its licensing functions. The Council’s current Policy came into effect on 7 January 2011 and will expire on 6 January 2016.
I have attached the relevant appendices to the report.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered a report on the New Statement of Licensing Policy (Policy). The Council was required under the Licensing Act 2003 (‘the Act’) to determine and publish a Statement of Licensing Policy (‘Policy’), at least once every 5 years, setting out its policies with respect to the exercise of its licensing functions. The current Policy which came into effect on 7 January 2011 would expire on 6 January 2016.
Yogini Patel (Senior Regulatory Services Manager) outlined the evidence-based approach adopted during the review of the current Policy involving the seven town centres within the Borough and included stakeholders, crime reports, health issues and licensed premises. She drew members’ attention to the draft Policy attached at Appendix 1 (with track changes), highlighting additional proposed changes and improvements to the Policy aimed at making it legally and factually up to date, accurate and clear.
During discussions of the changes to the Policy, Councillor Bradley suggested an immediate consideration of the need for a cumulative impact policy and a three yearly (rather than five) reviews. It was added that such a policy could reward and penalise and allow the Authority to address issues such as signage to warn street drinkers. A member also enquired as to whether it was possible to spend some of the licensing fees to promote enforcement and signage.
In response, Yogini Patel stated that as any legislative changes would be brought before members enabling them to review issues of concern, it was not advisable to review the policy every three years. She added that the need for a cumulative impact policy would form part of next year’s review of the policy. Looqman Desai (Senior Solicitor, Governance) added that members could request an earlier review at any time, if it was felt necessary. He advised members that as the consultation period would end on 30 October 2015, the draft Policy could be subject to further changes before it was reported to Council for approval. He continued that the Council’s General Fund was the only source of funding to promote enforcement as the licensing fees covered administration costs.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the comments made on the draft Policy be noted;
(ii) that it be noted that the public consultation period would end on 30 October 2015 and that the draft Policy may be the subject of change before it is reported to Full Council for approval;
(iii) that the intention to carry out a further review of the Council’s Policy next year with the aim of formulating practical policies which respond to local issues, assist decision making and facilitate the achievement of the Council’s objectives and vision be noted.
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Any other urgent business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: Sub-Committee membership changes.
Sub-Committee (A)
(i) Replace Councillor Hector with Councillor Harrison
Sub-Committee (B)
(i) Delete Councillor Davidson and insert Councillor Shaw as a substitute member.
(ii) Replace Councillor Harrison with Councillor Hector
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