Agenda and minutes

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Malcolm Thomas, in the Chair.

Minutes of meeting held on 21 June 2012 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2012 were signed by the Vice-Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillor Joyce Taylor arrived midway through the following item.

Report of Licensing Manager

Members received the report of the Licensing Manager to inform of the outcome of the consultation on the review of the Council’s Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy, and to seek Members’ views on the revised draft.

The Licensing Manager 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 Policy had last been updated in January 2010 and was therefore due to be updated in January 2013.

Members noted that 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.

The Licensing Manager reported that consultation on a revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy had been held from 1^st August 2012 until 24^th October 2012 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.

The Licensing Manager reported that one response had been received to the consultation on the review of the Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy from the Association of British Bookmakers, a copy of which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  The response stated that the Association of British Bookmakers was satisfied with the Council’s proposed policy and believed it had been effective in promoting the licensing objectives, as set out in Section 1 of the Gambling Act 2005. 

Members considered the revised draft policy and schedule of changes, which was attached at Appendix 2 to the report, showing that only minor amendments had been made to the previous Statement.

Resolved unanimously:

That the revised draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy be referred to Council for approval on 12^th December 2012.