Agenda item

The Council is required to publish a Statement of Licensing Principles under section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) every three years. The purpose of the Statement is to define how the Licensing Authority will exercise its responsibilities under the Act. This will be the first Statement of Licensing Principles to be published by BCP Council since its creation in April 2019. The draft policy was approved by Committee on 16^th September 2021 and public consultation took place for 12 weeks between October and December 2021.

In total nine responses were received, and these were considered by a Members’ workshop on 26^th January 2022. The draft policy is now offered for final consideration by the Committee, taking into account the consultation responses received and any recommendations put forward from the Members’ workshop.

The Interim Head of Licensing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was reminded that the draft Gambling Act Policy was approved by members for consultation on 16^th September 2021. A full public consultation had taken place for 12 weeks between October and December 2021. Responses to the consultation were considered at the members’ workshop in January 2022. The draft policy with suggested changes was now presented to the Committee for final consideration and recommendation to Council for adoption.

The Chair invited members to ask questions and make comments, focussing in particular on the suggested changes highlighted in the policy document and taking into account the consultation responses received and the views of the members’ workshop.

In his response it was noted that the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had referred to a recent Government commissioned report on gambling harms and their associated costs. The Interim Head of Licensing confirmed that the policy would be kept under review in light of the Government’s intention to review the 2005 Act.

The Interim Head of Licensing reported that one of the consultation responders, Gosschalks LLP (on behalf of the Betting and Gaming Council), had requested that the suggested changes at Sections 15.3 and 15.4 of the policy be removed as unnecessary. The Committee agreed that there was no detrimental reason not to include the changes, particularly in view of the PCC’s comments on the risks associated with gambling harm.

The Committee noted that the suggested change in Section 18.1 was intended to address the concerns raised by Gosschalks around the imposition of conditions.

In addition to the suggested changes in the report which the Committee approved, further amendments were agreed as follows:

·       Appendix 1, Direct Consultation List – The Committee agreed that Neighbourhood Forums and Neighbourhood Watch Associations should be added to the list of consultees for all future Licensing Policy public consultations

·       Section 7.2 – ‘Located on the Jurassic Coast’ – The Committee asked that this statement be checked for factual accuracy and removed as required.

·       Section 7.3 – ‘Two Universities’ – The Committee asked that this statement be checked for factual accuracy and amended to three as required.

·       Section 7.3 – The Committee agreed to add the words ‘and ferry port’ after ‘airport’.

·       Section 19.1 – The Committee agreed that the word ‘like’ as well as ‘most’ be deleted to read ‘that are adult only amusement arcades.’

·       Section 31.2 – The Committee agreed that the reference to ‘Criminal Records Bureau’ be updated to read ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’

·        The Committee also agreed that any incorrect references to a ‘premise’ in the document be amended to ‘premises’.

The Committee noted that the Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) circulated at Appendix 6 of the report had been considered and approved by the Council’s EIA Panel.

RESOLVED that having considered the public consultation and the recommendations put forward by the Members’ Workshop, the Statement of Licensing Principles – Gambling Act Policy 2022 – 2025 as amended and agreed by the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 10 March 2022 be RECOMMENDED to the Council for adoption.

Voting:          For – 12,       Against – 0,  Abstain – 1