Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)            to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)          where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)         the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)         if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)          all Members of the Committee;

(b)          all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that no interests were declared.

Report of Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy

Members received a report which sought approval of the revised Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) for consultation.  The Gambling Policy/ statement of principles had last been updated in 2022 and, in accordance with the Gambling Act, the Licensing Authority was required to prepare and publish a statement of principles every three years.

An officer introduced the report and advised that there were no significant changes proposed to the policy but that it had been updated in terms of numbering, references, changes in website links and information on the borough.  In addition, two lines from the review section had been deleted so that approval could now be given by a senior officer rather than Head of Service.  Following the six week consultation period, the final draft policy would be submitted to the Committee for consideration and onward recommendation to Council for approval.  The draft policy would also be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

A Member sought clarification on the consultation and was advised that this would include the police, fire service, businesses and interested parties.  The officer advised that an approach would be made to the Conversation Café and work to engage with those less digitally able would be undertaken.

In response to a question about the number of betting machines in a premises and whether there were any guidelines/ breakdown as to what was and was not permitted, the officer undertook to provide this information to Members.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the draft Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) be approved for consultation;

(2)            the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised to commence the public consultation and thereafter report back to the Licensing & General Purposes Committee;

(3)            it be noted that the draft policy would also be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, before it is recommended to Council for approval.