Agenda and minutes

The Licensing Manager submitted a report concerning the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, which would come into force on 1st September, 2007. The Act required the Council to prepare and publish a Statement of Licensing Principles before it carried out any function in respect of applications made under the Act.

The document is a statement of how the Council intends to exercise the licensing functions imposed upon it by the Gambling Act 2005. It states the Council’s general approach to the making of licensing decisions and the regulation of licensable activities. It should provide transparency for all those affected by the licensing regime which means not only applicants for a licence, but also local residents who are able to make representations to the Council in opposition to some applications.

From 1^st June, 2006, to 31^st August, 2006, the Council carried out a comprehensive consultation exercise in relation to its draft Statement of Licensing Principles, which must be prepared and published every three years. A number of comments were made by local residents and stakeholders and these were summarised in an appendix to the report submitted. Some of the comments have been incorporated into the final Policy document, which needs to be approved by full Council on 22^nd November, 2006, to meet the statutory deadline imposed by the Government.

Resolved:- That the Statement of Licensing Principles, as now submitted, in relation to the Gambling Act 2005, be noted and supported.