Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL.

Contact: Jessica Feeney, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

7.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 7 July 2016.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 7 July 2016 were approved as a correct record.

8.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

9.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

There were no declerations of interest.

10.

Review Of The Statement Of Principles Under The Gambling Act 2005 - Consideration Of Public Consultation Comments. pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hamilton arrived at 7.04 pm.

Members were informed that The Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) required all local authorities to produce a statement of the principles, which they propose to apply when exercising their functions under the Act.

The Act also required that any statement is kept under review and must be re-published at least every three years. The current Statement of Principals was now due for review. This report brought back to Members of the Licensing Committee was the reviewed document, along with the comments received during public consultation, for consideration before adoption.

 

The online consultation results were circulated to the committee.

 

Members were informed that Gosschalks commented on the local profile aspect of the policy and requested that vulnerable areas and group considerations were included in the application process.

 

Members discussed the definition of a vulnerable person. The Licensing Officer informed members that the definition of a vulnerable person used in the Gambling Act was established from a study carried out Manchester and Westminster Council.

 

Councillor Collins questioned how staff would know if a customer had a mental impairment. Members were informed that staff members were trained to recognise behaviour and vulnerable people. Members were made aware that training was not a mandatory condition put in place by the Council, although mandatory training was imposed by almost all large bookmakers as this was something the gambling commission considered as an aspect of their operating licence applications.

 

Councillor Snell questioned if there was a possibility the council could put a limit on the number of gambling shops in one shopping centre or street. The Head of Public Protection explained that Thurrock did not have a cumulative impact although it was added further that gambling shop had to apply for planning commission which would allow members an opportunity to comment.

 

Lotteries were discussed amongst the committee members, it was questioned what relevant convictions would disqualify applicants from a Lottery Licence. The Licensing Officer informed members that there was a list of conviction with mainly included fraud and dishonesty offences.

 

The Licensing Officer informed members that the licensing authority were happy with the corporation received from the Gambling Commission.

 

Councillor Hamilton questioned if it was possible to ban all gambling advertisement which would appeal to young people. The legal representative explained that this would be difficult to impose and not viable as young people under the age of 18 legally cannot gamble.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Licensing Committee considers the comments received in relation to the draft reviewed Gambling Act Statement of Principles, and agrees the revised version as in Appendix C, for referral to Council for adoption.

11.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Minutes:

The work programme was noted.