The Cabinet Member for Community was invited to introduce the item and he thanked the officer for the report.

The Committee considered the report for the addition of a Local Area Profile (LAP) to the current Statement of Principles – Gambling Act 2005.  The Licensing Officer explained that the Gambling Commission recommended that Local Authorities undertook a LAP to examine the risks associated with gambling.  He said that the information gained from the process would provide a better understanding of where gambling premises were located and increase awareness of any identified risks.  The Licensing Officer explained that since 6 April 2016, gambling operators had been required to undertake risk assessments for their premises, taking into account the nature and characteristics of the local area.  He outlined the general aims of the LAP as noted in Appendix I to the report: the Draft Gambling Act 2005 Swale Local Area Profile, and said that the information received would provided a footing for the decision-making process in gambling contexts.  The Licensing Officer gave an overview of the adverse harm that gambling had on individuals, communities, deprived areas, and vulnerable people, both health wise and financial and explained that the impact could be short-term or long-term.  The Licensing Officer outlined the measures that Councils could take in sharing data, and sign-posting to support services.  He drew Members’ attention to the various maps in the document showing locations of gambling premises, and where gambling counselling was sited.  The Licensing Officer also referred to the statistics in the Appendix of who had contacted the counselling group, with the age of the gambler, gender and the debt that they were in.  There was also information on the location of recovery centres, crime, at or near gambling premises, deprived areas, and the location of religious institutions in relation to gambling premises.

The Licensing Officer summarised and said that this was not a finished document and the LAP would develop over time with increased intelligence.  The process would encourage a proactive approach to risk which was likely to reduce compliance and enforcement action.

Members were invited to ask questions and make comments.

In response to a question on the maps, the Licensing Officer confirmed that each location where there was a gaming permit was indicated on the map.  Members were also advised that online bingo was not regulated by the Council.

A Member noted that Town Councils were not listed on page 7 of the report as proposed consultees, and requested that they be added so that both Town and Parish Councils were consulted.  The Member also added that the most up-to-date information needed to be included, as there was a premises indicated on the map that was no longer there.

In response to a question, the Contentious Team Leader explained that although there might be a perception that there were more betting shops in the high street than in previous years, this was not the case, and there were actually less.  He said the largest amount of betting was carried out online, which the Gambling Commission regulated, not the Council.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Committee recommends to the Council that the revision of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles 2019 – 2022 includes the Local Area Profile.

(2)      That the draft Local Area Profile for public consultation be approved and officers carry out a consultation over a 12-week period.