25 MC/21/11 GAMBLING ACT 2005 'NO CASINO' RESOLUTION PDF 329 KB
Chair of Licensing and Regulatory Committee
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Guthrie introduced the report and informed Council that in 2018, a Councillor requested that full Council consider a “No Casino” resolution”.
Full Council requested that Licensing and Regulatory Committee provide a full evidence base for full Council to be able to make a full deliberation on.
Licensing and Regulatory Committee met on 16th August 2021 and recommended that full Council determine whether to adopt a “No Casino” resolution” based on the evidence that was captured in the report.
Councillor Guthrie said that if the Council resolved not to adopt a “No Casino” resolution” this matter would not be debated again unless the allocation of casinos under the Gambling Act was increased by the Secretary of State.
The key evidence within the report in as far as the full allocation of casinos for the country was that the allocation had already been fully utilised under the Act, of 8 small casino’s 8 large Casino’s and 1 regional Casino.
No provision was available for a licence to be granted anywhere in England. Furthermore, as the full allocation under the Act had been granted it would need a suitable economic climate and the political will of the Government for the Secretary of State to lay legislation for a further allocation of casinos. A further allocation was highly unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future as the current Government was tightening restrictions to gambling.
The original concern regarding casinos stemmed form a planning application for Snoasis which included plans to have a casino on site. This application has now been withdrawn and the new proposed development in this area, Valley Ridge has removed all references to the provision of a casino.
Councillor Guthrie added that Mid Suffolk District Council had not received any applications for a casino from when the Gambling Act 2005 had come into force until present day. Research had also shown that none of the surrounding district and borough councils that border with Mid Suffolk have adopted a “No Casino Resolution.
Councillor Guthrie informed Council that Mid Suffolk only had two betting shops and all other gambling activities were either EWP machines in amusements with prizes in licensed premises or other small lottery registrations.
Councillor Guthrie then MOVED the recommendations in the report which Councillor Muller SECONDED.
Councillor Mansel sought clarification on the recommendations in the report.
Councillor Eburne asked whether the Licensing and Regulatory Committee had a view on this, what the benefits were of a “No Casino” approach and whether there were any applications in the pipeline?
In response, Councillor Guthrie said that the “No Casino” resolution was a full Council decision, and as there were no allocation left for casinos there was little benefit to the Council. She was not aware of any applications in the pipeline.
Councillor Stringer sought clarification on the risk management element in the report.
Councillor Amorowson felt that despite there being conflicting evidence regarding casinos in the report, it had been proven that gambling places a greater burden on social services ... view the full minutes text for item 25
7 MLR/21/4 GAMBLING ACT 2005: 'NO CASINO' RESOLUTION PDF 264 KB
Report from the Licensing Team attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
7.1 Kay Sanders, Licensing Officer presented Paper MLR/21/4 to the Committee. The Committee was asked to note the evidence base research contained within the report in regard to a ‘No Casino’ resolution under section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005 (“The Act”); and to make a recommendation to Council for a decision to be taken on whether to adopt a ‘No Casino’ resolution.
7.2 The Licensing Officer responded to a question from Councillor Otton to confirm there had been no applications for a casino within the District.
7.3 Councillor Stringer commented that he was in favour of a ‘No Casino’ resolution as government thinking can change quickly and a resolution would give a clear indication that any future applications would not be considered.
7.4 Councillor Brewster proposed that the recommendations contained in Paper MLR/21/4 be approved. Councillor Flatman seconded the proposal.
It was RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:
1. That the Licensing & Regulatory Committee in considering the evidence base, make a recommendation to Council to determine whether to adopt a ‘No Casino’ resolution; and
2. That if the Council resolves not to adopt a ‘No Casino’ resolution, this matter will not be debated again unless the allocation under the Gambling Act 2005 is increased by the Secretary of State.