Issue - meetings

To consider and approve the draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2024-2027 for consultation.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report on the Gambling Act Policy 2024-2027 and explained that the timeline in the report had been updated so that there would be a 2 week consultation period from 31 October 2023 to 14 November 2023. The policy would then return to the Licensing Committee on 5 December 2023 and Council on 14 December 2023.

The Committee queried what protection the Council had until the policy came into effect.

It was proposed by Councillor Bateson, seconded by Councillor Rybinski and resolved to exclude the public and press be excluded for the following agenda items, in accordance with paragraph 5 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

The Committee resolved to return to open session.

The Committee asked how risk was assessed in relation to the prevention of harm to children and vulnerable adults. The Principle Licensing Officer advised that each applicant would need to show what was being done to promote the Licensing Objectives (including protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling). The Council would then use that information to decide whether a license would be granted.

Committee resolved to agree to approve the draft Statement of Gambling Policy 2024-2027 for consultation to comply with statutory requirements in accordance with the following timeline; a 2 week consultation period from 31 October 2023 to 14 November 2023. The policy would then return to the Licensing Committee on 5 December 2023 and Council on 14 December 2023.

The meeting finished at 19:32