Agenda item

The Policy and Performance Officer presented the report to the Committee.

Under The Gambling Act 2005 (the ‘Act’), the Council was responsible for issuing premises licences for casinos, bingo halls, betting offices, adult gaming centres and licensed family entertainment centres as well as permits for gaming machines in pubs, clubs and other alcohol licensed premises.

The Act contained 3 licensing objectives the Council had to regard when acting in its capacity.  These 3 objectives were:

·       preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder, or being used to support crime;

·       ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and,

·       protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Act imposed a statutory requirement upon the Council to prepare a Statement of Principles (alternatively referred to as the ‘Policy’), and the Act additionally required the Council to review and publish its Policy every 3 years.

The Joint Environmental Health Service had conducted an initial review of the Policy and research into gambling related harm and crime in the District.  This has resulted in the following proposed amendments:

·       Modify the format of the Policy to ensure it remained cohesive and consistent with that of neighbouring local authorities;

·       Ensure the Policy was consistent with legislation and statutory guidance;

·       Increase the clarity of the Policy;

·       Update local demographics; and,

·       Provide clarity on delegations.

Following consideration of the draft Policy by the Committee and the Climate Change and Change and Communities Scrutiny, a 12-week public consultation had been held between 2^nd June 2025 and 24^th August 2025.

The consultation had been published via the Ask Derbyshire website and publicised through the Council’s website and social media platforms.  Stakeholders had also been contacted directly via email.  A full list of stakeholder consultees was included at Appendix 1.

The Council had received 2 responses to the consultation:

·       Derbyshire Constabulary attached at Appendix 2; and,

·       Public Health attached at Appendix 3.

Public Health had requested the Policy be translated into different languages (dependent upon population within the District).  The Licensing Team had carefully considered the content of Public Health’s request and felt the requirement for translation was adequately covered in the Policy’s introductory section (as it was the case with current existing policies, where a translation service was offered on request).

The overall lack of responses indicated an indifference to the proposed changes to the Policy and that the updated Policy was fit for purpose.  A copy of the Draft Statement of Principles, subject of the consultation, was attached at Appendix 4.

The Draft Local Area Profile was attached at Appendix 5.

The Environmental Health Team Manager informed the Policy had been a collaborative effort across the team.

To a question on any significant changes to note, the Environmental Health Team Manager informed the main changes had been regards formatting and improved / simplified descriptions.

To a question on the use of only metric measurements to quantify the geographical size of the District, the Environmental Health Team Manager stated the use of imperial measurements could also be included.

Moved by Councillor Duncan McGregor and seconded by Councillor Jeanne Raspin

RESOLVED that the: 1) Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee notes the outcome of the consultation and approves the revised draft Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005; and,

2)    Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee refer the Policy to full Council together with a recommendation that the draft Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 be adopted.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance at the meeting.