Agenda item

To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendation made to it by the Licensing and Registration Committee in relation to the adoption of a revised Gambling Licensing Policy Statement.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the Gambling Licensing Policy Statement be adopted.

Earlier on in the meeting, as reported under Minute 71 above:-

(i)     Councillor Scott had declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in relation to this matter insofar as he held a Gaming Licence for North Essex Liberal Democrats within the District. Councillor Scott therefore withdrew from the meeting and left the room whilst this Cabinet deliberated on this matter and made its decision.

(ii)    Councillor P B Honeywood had likewise declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in relation to this matter insofar as he held a Gaming Licence for the Clacton Constituency Conservative Association. Councillor Honeywood therefore also withdrew from the meeting and left the room whilst this Cabinet deliberated on this matter and made its decision.

Cabinet considereda reference report (A.3) which enabled it to consider the recommendation made to it by the Licensing and Registration Committee in relation to the adoption of a revised Gambling Licensing Policy Statement.

Cabinet was informed that a draft Policy Statement had been considered by the Licensing and Registration Committee at its meeting held on 24 July 2024.  The Committee at that time had authorised consultation on the draft for a period of five weeks from 30 July 2024 to 3 September 2024.

In response to that consultation Gosschalks LLP, acting on behalf of the Betting and Gaming Council, had submitted a consultation response. As part of that response, Gosschalks had put forward amendments to paragraphs 15.11 and 24.2 of the Policy Statement.

It was reported that the draft Policy Statement had sought to set out how this Council (as the licensing authority) would regulate gambling activities within the District. Whilst for the majority of the general public, gambling was an enjoyable and often social experience, it was for some individuals a largely hidden addiction which taken to excess had an adverse impact on their finances, health, wellbeing and relationships. The wellbeing of its residents was a key priority for the Council and the Gambling Policy had a role to play in supporting this priority through its control of gambling premises. It was hoped that the new revised policy statement was clear and easily understood and would be of significant use to the Council, its partners and operators when considering gambling matters.

The Licensing and Registration Committee (“the Committee”), at its meeting held on 2 October 2024 (Minute 23 refers), had considered the matter again (including the response received during the consultation).  Through the report, the Committee had been invited to determine its recommendation to Cabinet.  The Committee’s decision had been as follows:-

“RESOLVED that the Committee recommends the revised Gambling Licensing Policy Statement 2025 - 2028, as attached as Appendix A to the report (A.3), to Cabinet and thence Full Council for its formal adoption.”

The Policy Statement referred to in the above decision of the Licensing and Registration Committee was set out as an Appendix to the reference report.

Cabinet had before it the following formal written response submitted by the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder. Under the Leader of the Council’s approved Scheme of Delegation, as set out in Schedule 3 (Responsibility for Executive Functions) of Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution, the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning was the designated Executive Member for overseeing licensing policy matters.

“I thank the Licensing and Registration Committee for its oversight of thedevelopment of this revised policy statement on behalf of the Council.  It is important that we operate the Council’s gambling licensing functions in a way that promotes the Gambling Act 2005’s objectives of:

·      preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime

·      ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way

·      protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

I am pleased to be able to support the adoption of this revised policy statement and urge Cabinet to recommend this to Full Council.”

Having duly considered the recommendation made by the Licensing and Registration Committee, together with the formal response thereto submitted by the Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder (as the designated Executive Member for overseeing licensing policy matters):-

It was moved by Councillor M E Stephenson, seconded by Councillor I J Henderson and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the Gambling Licensing Policy Statement be adopted.