Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6^th September, 2018, be received and approved as a correct record.

Committee were requested to consider the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy, as appended to the report and recommend its adoption by Council.  Members were advised that no responses were received in relation to the draft document during the consultation period, which ran from 17^th September, 2018 until 28^th October, 2018.

RESOLVED

that the draft revised Statement of Licensing Policy (effective from 31^st January, 2019), as appended to the report, be agreed and recommended to Council for approval.

Reasons:

1.    The Council is obliged to determine and publish a "Statement of Licensing Policy" and to keep it under review and to republish it at least every five years.  The Statement of Licensing Policy sets out how the Licensing Authority intends to exercise its functions under the 2003 Act.

2.    The current Policy is nearing the end of its five-year life span and as such, requires updating and republishing.

3.    At its meeting on the 6^th September, 2018, the Committee agreed a revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy and requested that the Licensing Team Leader carry out a 6-week consultation seeking comments in relation to the draft revised Policy.

Committee were requested to consider the draft revised Statement of Gambling Policy, as appended to the report and recommend its adoption by Council.

Members were advised that one response had been received in relation to the draft document during the consultation period, which ran from 17^th September, 2018 until 28^th October, 2018. The response had requested that ‘Gamblers Anonymous’ be referenced within the Policy and the Licensing Team Leader advised that this amendment could be accommodated.

The Committee were also asked to approve a couple of additional minor changes to the draft Policy as indicated.

RESOLVED that

a)    the draft revised Statement of Gambling Policy (effective from 31^st January, 2019), as appended to the report, be agreed and recommended to Council for approval subject to the inclusion of the following (marked in italics):-

           Paragraphs:

            2.1       The Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) which were revised and published in February 2015, formalise the need for operators to consider local risks. Local risk assessments apply to all non-remote casino, adult gaming centre, bingo, family entertainment centre, betting and remote betting intermediary (trading room only) licences, except non-remote general betting (limited) and betting intermediary licences.This provision came into force on 6^th April 2016.

            2.2       Licensees are required to assess the local risks to the licensing objectives posed by the provision of gambling facilities at each of their premises, and have policies, procedures and control measures to mitigate those risks. In undertaking their risk assessments, they must take into account relevant matters identified in this policy statement. Such risk assessments should also be retained at the premises.

5.16    Applicants are encouraged to offer their own measures to meet the licensing objectives, however, appropriate measures/licence conditions imposed by the Authority may cover issues such as:

·                proof of age schemes

·                CCTV

·                supervision of entrances / machine areas

·                physical separation of areas

·                location of entrances

·                notices / signage

·                specific opening hours

·                self-barring schemes

·               provision of information leaflets / helpline numbers/ website addressesfor organisations such as GamCareand Gamblers Anonymous.

b)    the revised Statement of Gambling Policy to include and maintain the “No Casino” resolution.

Reasons:

1.    The Council is obliged to determine and publish a "Statement of Gambling Policy" and to keep it under review and to republish it at least every three years.  The Statement of Gambling Policy sets out how the Licensing Authority intends to exercise its functions under the 2005 Act.

2.    The current Policy is nearing the end of its three-year life span, and as such, requires updating and republishing.

3.    At its meeting on 6^th September 2018, the Committee agreed a revised draft Statement of Gambling Policy and requested that the Licensing Team Leader carry out a 6-week consultation seeking comments in relation to the draft revised Policy.