Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on (8 October 2009). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th October 2009 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Licensing Manager presented a report to inform Members of the outcome of the consultation on the review of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and to seek Members’ views on the revised draft. 

It was reported that Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 provided that each licensing authority should, before each successive period of three years, prepare a statement of the principles that they proposed to apply in exercising their functions under the Act during that period, and publish that statement.

In January 2007, during the transitional period leading up to the full implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, the Council had established its first Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy in preparation for receiving applications for premises licences and permits in September of that year.

The Act provided that, before determining the policy, a licensing authority must consult with the Chief Officer of Police for the area, one or more persons who appeared to the authority to represent the interests of persons carrying on gambling businesses in the authority’s area, and one or more persons who appeared to the authority to represent the interests of persons who were likely to be affected by the exercise of the authority’s functions under the Gambling Act 2005.

It was reported that consultation on a revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy had been held from 27^th July 2009 until 19^th October 2009 and, in addition to the statutory requirements and to ensure that the consultation had been as effective as possible, a press release had been issued regarding the consultation process, the revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy had been made available on the Council’s website and copies had been made available at the Council’s offices.

No responses had been received to the consultation on the review of the Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy,  However, the Licensing Manager had become aware of the need to make certain changes to the wording of paragraph 9.8 (premises ready for gambling) during the consultation period. 

The draft policy was, therefore, the same as the one that Committee had considered at its meeting on 8^th October 2009, other than the amendment to paragraph 9.8.  The revised draft policy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report and the proposed amendments were underlined, including paragraph 9.8, for clarity.

Members considered the revised draft in detail.

It was proposed by Councillor Taylor and seconded by Councillor Wade:

“That the revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy be referred to Council for approval on 16^th December 2009.”

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposal, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposition to be carried.

Resolved:

That the revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy be referred to Council for approval on 16^th December 2009.

The Licensing Manager advised that this would be his last meeting of the Licensing Act Committee prior to commencing new employment.  On behalf of Members of the Committee, the Chairman thanked the Licensing Manager for his valued work and contribution at the City Council and wished him every success in his new post.  The Licensing Manager responded suitably.