Issue - meetings
Proposed renewal of the Council's Current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Policy Statement)
Meeting: 22/11/2021 - Council (Item 16)
To receive a report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration & Environment seeking approval to renew the council’s existing Gambling Policy in its current form for a maximum of a further 24 months until 31st January 2024.
Additional documents:
- 15a. Appendix 1- Statement of Gambling Principles, item 16 PDF 1 MB
- Webcast for Proposed renewal of the Council's Current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Policy Statement)
Decision:
Council RESOLVED to approve the renewal of the current Gambling Policy and Statement of Principles for a maximum period of 2 years until 31st January 2024, as recommended by Cabinet.
Minutes:
The Mayor invited Councillor Knight, Lead Member for Community Safety & Engagement, to introduce a report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration & Environment, seeking approval to renew the Council’s existing Gambling Policy in its current form for a maximum period of a further 24 months until 31st January 2024.
In introducing the report, Councillor Knight advised members of the requirement under the Gambling Act 2005 for the Council to publish a statement of principles (policy statement) to be applied in exercising its functions under the Act. In December 2020 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had launched a major and wide ranging review of the Act to consider the increase in online gambling along with advertising, marketing rules and the powers of the Gambling Commission and to ensure the necessary protections were available within the regulatory framework in order to protect children and vulnerable people, prevent gambling related crime and keep gambling fair in the digital age. The Council had made representations in response to the consultation seeking to secure more control over the number of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) able to be established within the borough given the detrimental impact they were felt to have on local communities, particularly in areas of deprivation. Given the need for the Council to review and prepare a new or revised gambling policy and statement of principles that would align with any new legislation framework introduced as a result of the review, it had been recommended that the current policy be renewed for up to a further two year period in order to allow this process to be undertaken. Confirmation was provided that the current policy had been reviewed and remained fit. An assurance was also provided regarding the robust and hostile stance being maintained by the Council against the establishment of AGCs in Brent given the detrimental impact they were felt to have on town centres, local communities and in targeting the most vulnerable and deprived neighbourhoods, particularly within the south of the borough.
As no members indicated they wished to speak and Councillor Knight had confirmed she did not need to exercise her right of reply the Mayor then put the recommendations in the report to the vote and they were unanimously declared CARRIED.
Council therefore RESOLVED to approve the renewal of the current Gambling Policy and Statement of Principles for a maximum period of 2 years until 31st January 2024, as had been recommended by Cabinet on 8 November 2021.