Agenda item
Any other urgent business
Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting.
In accordance with the provisions outlined in paragraphs 12 and 36 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules (Part 2 – Constitution), the Leader of the Council has agreed to receive the following as an urgent item at this meeting:
11.1 Proposed renewal of the Council’s current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Policy Statement)
This report seeks approval to recommend to Council renewal of the council’s existing gambling policy in its current form for a maximum of a further 24 months until 31st January 2024.
The reasons for urgency are as detailed within section 1.3 of the attached report.
(Agenda republished to include this item on 4 November 2021)
Decision:
In accordance with Paragraphs 12 and 36 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, Cabinet noted that the Leader of the Council had agreed to deal with the following as an urgent item on the grounds that there was a statutory requirement for the Council to have in place a Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and there was therefore a need to consider renewal of the policy in advance of it expiring on 30 January 2022.
11.1 Proposed renewal of the Council’s current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Policy Statement)
Cabinet RESOLVED to recommend to Council that, having agreed the reasons for urgency, the current gambling policy and statement of principles be renewed until 31st January 2024.
Minutes:
In accordance with Paragraphs 12 and 36 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, advised Cabinet that he had also agreed to deal with the following as an urgent item on business at the meeting on the grounds that there was a statutory requirement for the Council to have in place a Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and there was therefore a need to consider renewal of the policy in advance of it expiring on 30 January 2022.
11.1 Proposed renewal of the Council’s current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Policy Statement)
Councillor Knight, Lead Member for Community Safety & Engagement, was then invited to introduce the accompanying report which she advised was 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 and recommend this on to Full Council for formal agreement.
In considering the report Cabinet noted that the Council was required under the Gambling Act 2005 to publish a statement of principles (policy statement) to be applied in exercising its functions under the Act, with the current version due to expire on 30th January 2022. 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 was considered to remain fit for purpose with no amendments required.
In commenting on the report, members expressed their strong support for 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 neighborhoods. In confirming their support for the approach outlined in the report, Members were keen to ensure the Council continued to do all within its power to control and minimise the number of ASCs across all parts of the borough.
As a result of the discussions, Cabinet therefore RESOLVED to recommend to Council that, having agreed the reasons for urgency, the current gambling policy and statement of principles be renewed until 31st January 2024.
Supporting documents:
- 11.1 Urgent Item - Gambling Statement, item 11. PDF 407 KB
- 11.1a. Appendix 1- Statement of Principles for Gambling, item 11. PDF 1 MB