Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda.  Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

There were no substitute members.

There were no declarations of interest.

So as to provide the best opportunity for the Committee to provide the public with the fullest answer, questions from the public should be submitted by midday on Wednesday 6 November 2024.

Where relevant notice of a question has not been given, the person presiding may either choose to give a response at the meeting or respond by undertaking to provide a written response within three working days. Questions should be submitted to Democratic Services - democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Public Question Time will last for a maximum of 30 minutes)

There were no questions from the public.

Pre-submitted Members questions are pursuant to rule 12 of the Council & Committee Procedure Rules.

Questions should be submitted by midday on Wednesday 6 November 2024 to Democratic Services, democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

(Note: Member Question Time will operate for a maximum of 30 minutes.)

There were no questions from Members.

To approve the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 9 September 2024, which have been emailed to Members.

Resolved: that the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on

9 September 2024 be approved as the correct record.

To consider any items the Chairman of the meeting considers to be urgent

There were no urgent items.

To consider a report by the Director for Sustainability & Resources, attached as item 6.

The Licensing Officer presented the report explaining that, in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Gambling Act 2005, Adur District Councils statement of Gambling Licensing policy has been the subject of a review which had included a comprehensive consultation with the responsible authorities, council officers, stakeholders and the public. Members were requested to consider this updated draft policy and recommend its adoption to the Full Council.

The Officer clarified for members that with the increased use of smartphones etc online gambling had flourished but that traditional gambling premises were dwindling. There were now only three licensed establishments in the Adur area.

He confirmed that the Licensing Department had received two representations, one from Gamcare and one from MP Beccy Cooper.

Members commented that it was very favourable to see the challenge 25 policy coming into place within the policy.

Members queried whether the 2023 government whitepaper addressing the harm caused by online gambling had any bearing on the changes in the updated policy. The Officer explained that he was not aware of any and that the Council’s Licensing Department had nothing to do with online gambling at all, but if they received any intel regarding this they passed it onto the Gambling Commission. If new legislation was passed by the government and it contained any relevance to our policy regarding advertising of online gambling, the policy would be reviewed, amended accordingly and brought back to committee.

During debate Members expressed concern regarding the lack of monitoring of online gambling. It was discussed that the updated policy did not contain the statement that gambling is a recognised medical addiction and suggestions were made that reference to this could be added at paragraph 14.15. Members concurred that the words ‘and addiction’ should be added to the first bullet point of this paragraph after the words ‘excessive gambling’ and that the word ‘manning’ in the same bullet point should be replaced with the word ‘staffing’.

A proposal was put forward that the updated policy draft be accepted by Members with the amendment as discussed above. This was seconded and voted in favour of unanimously.

Decision -

The Licensing Committee reviewed the draft Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy in relation to the Gambling Act 2005, and requested an amendment to the first bullet point of paragraph 14.15 so that it should read ‘The training of staff in brief intervention when customers show signs of excessive gambling and addiction, the ability of staff to offer brief intervention and how the staffing of premises affects this’

and agreed to invite the Council to endorse its recommendations and adopt an updated policy to come into force on 31 January 2025.