Issue - meetings

The Gambling Act 2005 was fully implemented during 2007 creating a system of licensing and regulation for commercial gambling. It requires the council to prepare and publish a Statement of Principles for each successive period of three years, which outlines the principles to be applied in exercising our functions as the Licensing Authority under the Act. Statutory consultation must take place prior to the Statement of Principles being determined by Full Council.

The Statement of Principles was comprehensively reviewed last year, but to bring the policy in line with the Gambling Commission review timetable this report sets out the outcome of a further review and proposed amendments identified as a result for formal adoption with the current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles due to expire on the 31 January 2025.

Members are asked to note that the Statement of Principles is also due to be considered by Cabinet on 12 November 2024 with any comments made as a result to be reported to Council as part of consideration of the final statement for adoption.

(Agenda republished on 16 November 2024to include an updated cover report including comments added following the Cabinet meeting on 12 November 2024)

Please note, this item also includes reference to the following two documents as background papers:

·        Statement of Gambling Principles Consultation responses

·        Equality Assessment

These documents have been published as a separate supplementary pack to accompany the main Council agenda.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, to introduce a report from the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods & Regeneration detailing the outcome of a review of the Council’s Statement of Gambling Principles.

In presenting the report, Councillor Krupa Sheth advised that the review had been undertaken as a result of the current Statement of Principles expiring on the 31 January 2025 with the requirement to produce a Statement of Gambling Principles established under the Gambling Act 2005 and required to cover a three-year period.  Each Statement was designed to outline the principles to be applied in exercising the Council’s functions as the Licensing Authority under the Act which included the issuing of premises licences for casinos, bingo halls, betting shops, adultgaming centres and licensed family entertainment centres as well as permits for gaming machines in pubs, clubs, and other alcohollicensed premises.  Whilst the Statement had been subject to a comprehensive review during 2023, the current review had been designed to ensure it was brought in line with the Gambling Commission review timetable and involved amendments to website links as well as changes reflecting the outcome of the consultation process which had been undertaken to support the review.  In noting the key role the statement fulfilled in terms of outlining local priorities and way in which gambling was managed and regulated in response to local concerns, based around the key licensing objectives, members were also reminded of the work currently being undertaken to develop a Joint Strategy Needs Assessment that would include an estimate on the scale of potential risk that gambling posed to the health of Brent resident.  In commending the report to Council, Councillor Krupa Sheth ended by highlighting the additional work being undertaken by the Council, working in partnership with a variety of stakeholders, to ensure the new government was aware of the level of shared concern regarding the harm being caused by gambling and particularly around the approval of new gambling premises.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Krupa Sheth for introducing the report and then opened the debate for contributions from other members.

Speaking in support of the Statement, Councillor Nerva highlighted concerns identified in relation to the public health impact and harm on local communities arising from gambling, specifically in the areas where this activity was focussed. Frustration was expressed at the restrictions on issues that could be included as matters for consideration in terms of the wider approach adopted towards regulation under Gambling Commissions guidance, with the efforts being made to work with the new Government to address the focus on the harm and public health impact caused by gambling welcomed and endorsed.

As a further contribution to the debate, Councillor Kelcher echoed the concerns raised reminding members of the significant blight being caused in his ward (Harlesden & Kensal Green) by the cluster of adult gaming centres and gambling premises located in that specific area.  Referring to the motion agreed at the last Council meeting in September 2024 on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17