Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

Licensing Committee considered this report on 18 September 2018 and its comments will be reported

The Director (JY) presented the report detailing the responses to the consultation undertaken into the proposed updated Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy. A full 12 week consultation period had been undertaken during which the policy had been welcomed within the industry.

Licensing Committee had considered the Policy at its meeting on 18 September 2018 and supported its adoption.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves and adopts the updated Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy.

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report that detailed the responses to the 12 week consultation of the proposed updated Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy. The policy had been previously presented to the Licensing Committee at the meeting held on 29th May 2018. He explained that the existing policy came into effect in January 2016 and that there was a legal requirement to review policy statements every three years. The draft policy had been updated to reflect the changes made, in accordance with the national guidance for adoption by January 2019.

He explained that the Licensing Team had undertaken a 12-week consultation with a range of stakeholders including Public Health Devon, licence holders, gambling support providers, and statutory consultees, which comments in relation to the consultation exercise had been received.

In response to questions from Members, the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager and the Principal Licensing Officer explained that:-

·         There was no available register to check applicants information with information provided from other authorities, but a proposed register for taxi drivers was being addressed;

·         The form for checking applicants was specific in the information it requested, but the authority had an excellent working relationship with the gambling commission and could liaise with them to make additional checks on applicants. However without a national register, making checks was a difficult task;

·         It would be good practice to share information such as refused applicants with other areas, which local authorities across the country were collaborating with and liaising with central government to form a register.

The Chair proposed and the Licensing Committee supported having greater checks made to applicants and to have these recommended to central government by Exeter City Council.

Recommended that the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy be approved and that Executive and Council requested to support and adopt the Policy.