Members of the Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor S Niblock declared a personal interest by virtue of being a Member of the Fire Authority.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the special meeting held on 7 July 2015.

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the special meeting held on 7 July 2015 be approved.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment sought Members’ approval of the Draft Statement of Policy under The Gambling Act 2005 in order that it may be presented to Council for approval on 14 December 2015.

The Licensing Manager reported that The Gambling Act 2005 required the Council to prepare and publish a Statement of the principles to be applied when exercising its functions under this Act and that it was a requirement this policy document be reviewed every three years.  Members were informed that as this Policy had first been published in December 2006 it must now be reviewed and published no later than December 2015.

The Licensing Manager advised that the draft Statement of Policy which had been agreed on 7 July 2015 had been circulated for consultation to a number of consultees and had also been publicised on the Council’s website during the period 13 July to 13 October 2015 and that one comment had been received from Public Health who suggested that paragraph 8.4 of the Policy be amended as outlined within the report.

The Licensing Manager responded to a number of questions from Members and confirmed that some of the wording within the Policy had been taken directly from The Gambling Act 2005 and therefore could not be amended.

Councillor D Realey expressed her concerns in respect of the reference to New Brighton within the Policy and proposed that this be removed.  After taking this proposal to the vote no other Members wished that the reference to New Brighton be removed.

In response to further questions from Members, the Licensing Manager confirmed that any objection from a religious group would likely be in respect of the impact of gambling on young people.  Queries were also raised in respect of bingo and the Licensing Manager advised that individual circumstances would need to be taken into account when considering whether this activity would need to be licensed as separate Guidance was available in relation to bingos.

It was moved by Councillor S Niblock and seconded by Councillor A Hodson that –

“(1)  The Draft Statement of Principles be amended in accordance with the suggestion from Public Health.

(2)  That the Draft Statement of Policy, subject to the amendment, be recommended for approval by Council on 14 December 2015.”

Resolved –

(1)  The Draft Statement of Principles be amended in accordance with the suggestion from Public Health.

(2)  That the Draft Statement of Policy, subject to the amendment, be recommended for approval by Council on 14 December 2015.