Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Graham Cullen.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to disclose any relevant interests. The following interests were disclosed:

·       Councillor Carl Macey asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder.

·       Councillor Andrew Leonard asked it be noted that he was a Magistrate.

To confirm the Minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Meeting held on 11 March 2024 and the Minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Sub Committee Meeting held on 5 April 2024.

The Minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Meeting held on 11 March 2024 and the Minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Sub Committee Meeting held on 5 April 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Group Manager Public Protection.

A report was submitted by the Group Manager Public Protection which enabled Members to undertake the required statutory three-yearly review of the Council’s (Licensing Authority’s) Statement of Licensing Principles (Gambling Policy).

The Gambling Act 2005 required the Council to prepare, consult on and publish a Statement of Licensing Principles (Gambling Policy) that it proposed to apply in exercising its licensing functions under the Act. The 2005 Act required that the policy was subject to a three yearly review.

The Authority’s current policy statement took effect in January 2022 and so the required review process had to be completed by the end of 2024 – with the updated policy to come into effect in January 2025. The report was the start of the policy review process and also set out the proposed timetable for the review.

The Principal Licensing Officer advised Members that there had been no gambling licensing hearings over the last 3 years and nothing in the policy that needed to be changed, apart from the time of its’ adoption and the number of gambling licences and authorisations that were in place, so he would recommend that consultation be issued on that basis to interested parties.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED

That there was nothing of significance that currently needed changing in the policy document and so it was recommended that the forthcoming consultation be issued on that basis.