Agenda item

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 comment prior to referral to Full Council 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 this item includes reference to the following two documents as background papers:

·         Gambling Statement Consultation responses

·         Equality Assessment

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

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To note (having considered) the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles (31 January 2025 – 31 January 2028) as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)       In order to fulfill legal requirements to refer the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles to Full Council on 18 November 2024 for formal adoption.

Eligible for call-in: No (report referred to Council for final approval)

Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement) introduced a report detailing the outcome of a review of the Council’s Statement of Gambling Principles undertaken with the aim of bringing the policy in line with the Gambling Commission review timetable, given the current Statement of Principles was due to expire on the 31 January 2025.

In presenting the report, members noted that the requirement to produce a Statement of Gambling Principles had been introduced under the Gambling Act 2005 with each Statement covering a three-year period and designed to outline the principles to be applied in exercising the Council’s functions as the Licensing Authority under the Act.  Members were advised these functions 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 recognising the restrictions on issues that could be included as matters for consideration in terms of the wider approach adopted towards regulation under the Gambling Commissions guidance.  In concluding presentation of the statement, members also welcomed the reference provided to 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.

Once again having noted the additional background papers circulated for reference purposes alongside the main report in relation to the Equality Assessment and consultation responses received as part of the review process, members highlighted a need to ensure that the Statement and any associated feedback was subject to regular review as further reassurance to local residents that the arrangements and approach adopted towards the regulation of gambling premises was as robust as possible, in view of wider concerns identified around the public health impact and harm on local communities in the areas where this activity was focussed.  Given the concerns identified, support was expressed for the work being undertaken in relation to the Joint Strategy Needs Assessment and lobbying of government in seeking the necessary interventions to address the level of risk, harm and concerns associated with the impact and concentration of gambling activity across specific areas and also the borough as a whole with members also keen to ensure the impacts were fully addressed within the associated Equality Assessment.

In once again supporting the need for a process of regular review Cabinet RESOLVED subject to the comments identified above:

(1)        To note (having considered) the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles (31 January 2025 – 31 January 2028) as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)        In order to fulfill legal requirements to refer the draft revised Statement of Gambling Principles to Full Council on 18 November 2024 for formal adoption.