To request that Cabinet considers the amended and updated draft Gambling Policy agreed by the Licensing and Registration Committee on 17 January 2022 and to recommend the Policy to the Full Council for adoption at its meeting due to be held on 29 March 2022.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)     approves the final draft Statement of Gambling Policy, as set out in Appendix A to item A.6 of the Report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder, for recommendation onto Full Council for its formal adoption and publication; and

b)     agrees that any further amendments to the Gambling Policy that are minor, or administrative only, in nature are delegated to the relevant Assistant Director, in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing and Registration Committee and the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, without the need for further public consultation or adoption.

Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder (A.6) which sought its approval of the amended and updated draft Gambling Policy (as previously agreed by the Licensing and Registration Committee on 17 January 2022) and to recommend the Policy to the Full Council for formal adoption at its meeting due to be held on 29 March 2022.

Cabinet was reminded that the Council was required to review its Statement of Gambling Policy every three years in accordance with Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 and to widely consult on that review with responsible authorities and other interested parties. The Council had to have a Gambling Policy agreed, published and in place at all times.

Members were made aware that Schedule 3 of the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended) described the functions of formulating or preparing a plan or strategy, as referred to within Regulation 4(1), that were not to be the sole responsibility of an Authority’s Executive. This included a Licensing Authority Policy Statement under Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005.  Consequently, any recommendation onto Full Council should be endorsed and approved by the Cabinet. This meant that for this Council the Policy must be adopted by Full Council on recommendation from the Licensing and Registration Committee and Cabinet. Following its adoption by Full Council the Policy had to be then published on the Council’s web site and by way of a public notice in a local newspaper.

It was reported that the review and renewal of this Policy had been subject to a public consultation and a final draft of the Policy had been considered and agreed by the Licensing and Registration Committee at its meeting held on 17 January 2022.

Having duly considered the amended Policy and in order to enable this matter to be submitted to Full Council in accordance with the requirements of the legislation:-

It was moved by Councillor Lynda McWilliams, seconded by Councillor Paul Honeywood and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

a)     approves the final draft Statement of Gambling Policy, as set out in Appendix A to item A.6 of the Report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder, for recommendation onto Full Council for its formal adoption and publication; and

b)     agrees that any further amendments to the Gambling Policy that are minor, or administrative only, in nature are delegated to the relevant Assistant Director, in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing and Registration Committee and the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, without the need for further public consultation or adoption.