Agenda item - Gambling Licensing Authority Review

Report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy attached)

24.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection setting out recent gambling licensing issues which had been dealt with by the city council over the past year. The Licensing authority took responsibility for Licensing Authority functions, extending the range of regulations covered by the Primary Authority including age restricted sales of gambling, co–regulation and intelligence sharing between the Licensing Authority, Gambling Commission and the Police, premises licence trends in relation to Betting Shops and local trends.

24.2    Councillor Wakefield stated that she had concerns in relation to the London Road area of the city centre where there appeared to be a proliferation of gambling establishments, enquiring regarding measures available to limit their proximity to one another. The Head of Regulatory Services, Mr Nichols explained that this could be prove difficult. Three recent applications submitted in December 2012 had not given rise to any objections, hence licences had been granted in January 2013. Whilst in some parts of the country problems had arisen where such premises were situated in close proximity to one another, such problems had not been experienced in Brighton and Hove and in consequence its Policy was concise whilst recognising this as a potential issue. However any future policy review could, if necessary, address an emerging situation were gambling establishments/betting offices etc to become a source of disorder.

24.3    Councillor Hawtree stated that he was aware by virtue of his position as Chair of Planning Committee that the use classes which included these types of establishment were very wide.

24.3    Councillor Simson referred to the extant licence mentioned in paragraph 3.5.1 of the report and sought clarification as to whether if an alternative venue was subsequently found the operator would need to apply for a new licence. It was explained that the Grosvenor Casino’s licence was current but the owners would not be operating until such time as the economy picked up and they could find a viable venue within the city.

24.5    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee note the contents of the report;

            (2) That officers should continue to monitor trends of applications and illegal activity to inform future policy; and

            (3) That officers report to BRDO (Better Regulation Delivery Office) that proposed changes to test purchasing and regulation are unnecessary and inappropriate.