Issue - meetings

This report seeks comments on the Council’s Statement of Gambling Principles which sets out the policy for dealing with applications and regulating gambling premises within their borough in advance of its referral to Full Council on 20 November 2023 for formal approval and adoption.

Cabinet RESOLVED to note and approve (without any amendment) the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles (31 January 2022 – 31 January 2025) at set out within Appendix 1 of the report, for recommendation to Full Council on 20 November 2023 in order to confirm its formal adoption and fulfill the necessary legal requirements.

Eligible for call-in: No (Recommendation to Full Council)

Councillor Farah (Cabinet Member for Safer Communities & Public Protection) introduced a report setting out the Statement of Gambling Principles, which Cabinet noted it was a requirement for all local authorities designated as a Licensing Authority to have to keep under review and prepare and publish every three years, under the Gambling Act 2005.

In considering the report members were advised that as part of the Statement each Licensing Authority was expected to outline local issues, priorities and risks that would be used to inform their approach and policy for dealing with applications and regulating gambling premises, with the draft updated Statement for Brent having been detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.  In preparing the Statement of Principles each authority would also be required to reflect current regulations and have regard to the Gambling Commission’s guidance, with members noting the limitations these placed on Licensing Authorities in terms of relevant matters that could be taken into consideration when setting the policy and considering specific licensing applications.

Members were advised that the draft Statement of Principles had been subject to an extensive consultation process, with the responses and any amendments included as a result having been detailed within Appendix 2 of the report.

In recognising the work undertaken to prepare the revised draft Statement, Members specifically welcomed the focus included under Objective 3 in terms of the protection of children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.  Concerns were, however, expressed at the limits placed on Licensing Authorities under the current legislation in terms of relevant matters that could be taken into account when considering applications in relation to gambling premises, which excluded being able to consider issues such as public health, demand or moral objections.

In recognising the concerns highlighted and efforts made within the draft Statement of Principles to continue seeking to protect, as far as was possible within the limitations of current regulations, local communities and individuals from the harm and anti-social behaviour associated with gambling activity Cabinet RESOLVED to note and approve (without any amendment) the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles (31 January 2022 – 31 January 2025) as set out within Appendix 1 of the report, for recommendation to Full Council on 20 November 2023 in order to confirm its formal adoption and fulfill the necessary legal requirements.