Agenda item

Report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report (previously circulated) for Members to give consideration to a Draft Statement of Licensing Principles for the Gambling Act 2005.

The Gambling Act 2005 gives responsibility to the Gambling Commission for the issue of Operating Licences in respect of businesses offering gambling and also for the issue of Personal Licences for those employed in the business of gambling; and the 2005 Act requires all Local Authorities to prepare, consult on and publish a Gambling Policy.

It was noted that the first policy was approved by Members at the Council meeting held on 23 November 2006 and took effect on 31 January 2007 and has been revised every three years and was last revised by Council in November 2005 for publication on 31 January 2016.  The Policy was therefore due to be revised.

The submitted report advised that the Council currently licensed 12 Betting Shops and 26 Licensed Clubs and Pubs for the provision of gambling. The 2005 Act requires Local Authorities to follow the Guidance and Codes of Practice issued by the Gambling Commission and also the Council’s own policy statement.

It was also noted that the policy had remained largely unchanged and a widespread consultation exercise had been undertaken over a six week period from 11 February to 23 March 2019 with the Responsible Authorities, the gaming industry, the leisure industry and organisations dealing with problems arising from gambling.

It was reported that two responses had been received in respect of the revised document one from Darlington Borough Council’s Public Health highlighting the harms gambling can cause and the other from the Association of British Bookmakers highlighting that the number of betting shops had declined and some regulatory changes such as planning in 2015 had had an adverse effect.

RESOLVED – That the revised Licensing Principles be approved prior to its submission to Full Council.