Agenda item

Report of the Operational Director for Public Protection and Licensing (to follow).

5.1       The Committee received a report setting out the new risk assessment requirements for gambling premises that will come into effect on the 6th April 2016, the recent results from the Council’s commissioned research on area based vulnerability to gambling related harm and the proposals for the revision of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Principles for Gambling to encompass these developments. The Chairman stated that she was delighted to be at the event launching the report which set out the Council’s commissioned research on area based vulnerability to gambling related harm.  This work had been commissioned in partnership with Manchester City Council and the Local Government Association and had been carried out by Geofutures.  She added that the work had been inspired by Audrey Lewis, the former Chairman of the Committee, who had urged her in her capacity as Cabinet Member, and also officers, to ensure that there was sufficient evidence to make informed decisions in respect of applications involving gambling premises.  The Chairman wished to emphasise that Westminster was not against the gambling industry.  It would be of benefit that the Sub-Committee would have additional information to make good quality decisions in relation to gambling applications.  The Gambling Commission had understood this need on the part of local authorities having introduced the new risk assessment requirements for gambling premises that will come into effect on the 6th April 2016.  It would be useful for the gambling operators to assess the local risks to the licensing objectives posed by the provision of gambling facilities at each of their premises.

5.2       Mr Simpkin made the point that Westminster is currently leading the way across the country on gambling regulation at a local level.  He welcomed the fact that the Gambling Commission had introduced the local gambling risk assessment process which was in keeping with the Council’s work including the commissioned research on area based vulnerability to gambling related harm.  Mr Simpkin referred to the nature of the commissioned research which had been included in the report to the Committee. This had identified that there were four distinct areas where individuals or groups were particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm.  These were the north west of the borough / Harrow Road, Paddington / Edgware Road, Soho / West End and Victoria / Pimlico.  He informed Members that this was the first time in the UK that a vulnerability index had been produced with a location map showing the density of the risk or vulnerability.  He recommended that gambling operators take this information into account when undertaking their risk assessments as required by the Gambling Commission. 

5.3       Mr Simpkin added that there were different reasons as to why these four areas had a higher density of risk or vulnerability.  He drew Members’ attention to Harrow Road which was identified as the primary hotspot.The risk profile in this area was particularly driven both by the characteristics of the resident population and by the facilities and services that exist in this area.  This was in keeping with the previous work and findings of officers.  A Betfred application in 2015 had been refused by the Sub-Committee based on the evidence received and this had been the first such decision which had been upheld in the country.  There had also been a review of William Hill’s premises licence when conditions had been attached to the licence that were having a beneficial impact on how the establishment was being operated.

5.4       Mr Simpkin informed Members that having received the commissioned area based vulnerability research and also the Gambling Commission’s guidance on local risk assessments, officers were in the process now of creating a local area profile within a revised Council’s Statement of Licensing Principles for Gambling.  These would set out the key issues that the Council deems as relevant for gambling operators to consider as part of their risk assessment.  He stated this was a first in the UK and it was likely that the Council would be closely scrutinised as a result.  The current timetable for the draft revised Statement included undertaking a public consultation for a twelve week period from April.  Taking account of the responses received, it was intended that the revised Statement was introduced in late 2016.  He added that the Council had produced a guide on risk assessments for operators to consider and it had been adopted by the industry and a number of other local authorities.

5.5       Members of the Committee welcomed the extensive work undertaken by Mr Simpkin and the Licensing Team to date in this area.  They asked a number of questions on this topic, including the following:

·           Would officers be working with the Business Improvement Districts (‘BIDs) and residents?  Mr Simpkin replied that officers would be holding pre-consultation workshops to obtain opinion on some of the proposed changes within the revised Statement and residents and BIDs were likely to be part of this process in addition to care providers.  There was an intention to develop links between the gambling industry and local groups such as care providers and charities.

·           There are particular concerns regarding customers of betting shops being addicted to using fixed odds betting terminals (‘FOBTs’).  Would the work being undertaken by officers be able to address these concerns in any way?  Mr Simpkin responded that in terms of the commissioned research on area based vulnerability to gambling related harm, this had specifically avoided focusing on causality.  There was a limited budget.  He was aware that there was a study on FOBTs being carried out by the Responsible Gambling Trust which was scheduled to be published in April 2016 and was due to include gambling industry data.  Mr Panto wished to clarify that the betting shops if given a licence to do so, had the right to operate FOBTs.  They had been given this concession when the National Lottery had been introduced.

·           Mr Simpkin was asked about the commissioned research’s findings in relation to West End and Soho.  He stated that one of the key reasons for it being a hotspot was that there are three support services in this area which treat gambling addiction.

·           Mr Simpkin advised Members that City Inspectors were communicating with premises in Church Street and Harrow Road regarding their responsibilities.  The Police were content to challenge operators who were not effectively meeting the prevention of crime objective, including in the event there was inadequate CCTV coverage.  

5.6       RESOLVED: That the contents of the report be noted.