Issue - meetings

Granted planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives, as specified within the main committee report together with an additional condition to restrict noise generating equipment and noise from the site to not exceed 10dB when measured from the nearest noise sensitive property.

PROPOSAL

Change of use of basement and ground floor from vacant bank to bingo hall with

alteration to front elevation at ground floor level.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to:

(1)  The conditions and informatives as specified within the main committee report.

Parag Dhanani (Career Grade Planning Officer) introduced the planning application committee report, detailing the proposal for the change of use of basement and ground floor from vacant bank to bingo hall with alteration to front elevation at ground floor level.

Attention was drawn to the fact that since the publication of the committee report, a further objection to the proposed development had been raised which corresponded to those already received and addressed within the ‘Consultations’ section of the

committee report. The recommendation remained to grant consent subject to the conditions and informatives as outlined within the main committee report.

The Chair thanked Parag Dhanani for introducing the report. As there were no Committee questions raised at this point, the Chair then Liam Upson (who had registered to speak as an objector) to address the Committee in relation to the application, who highlighted the following points:

• Liam Upson began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to address the Planning Committee and represented residents who had submitted significant opposition to the plans to convert the former Lloyds Bank into a Bingo Hall.

• Reference was made to Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East, who had highlighted in Parliament that gambling facilities in Brent were more accessible than banks, supermarkets, and schools. The permit was to replace a former bank, with another bank having closed in Willesden Green this month.

• The objector noted that gambling-related harms costed Brent Council an estimated £14.3 million annually. It was argued that granting planning permission was a short-term measure with long-term harmful ramifications. It was believed that the permit was being provisionally granted due to weak licensing powers and a loophole in the law that did not consider a bingo hall in the same way as a bookmaker. The Leader of the Council had written to the culture secretary to raise concerns about the weak council powers to reject premise licences.

• Liam Upson pointed out that there was a large bingo hall in Cricklewood, less than half a mile away, which had applied to become an adult gaming centre and was approved. Additionally, there were numerous betting shops and adult gaming centres in close proximity to the site.

• It was felt that, despite the officer’s comments, there was strong evidence linking high densities of gambling establishments to increased social problems, including financial hardship and addiction, which could lead to crime and anti-social behaviour, thereby increasing costs for the Council. It was emphasised that this decision came at a time of growing concern about safety in the area.

• Regarding the consultation process, the objector noted that neighbourhood letters were not received, and many residents had reported a lack of information. It was felt that the officer’s comments did not sufficiently address the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4