Any Member attending as an approved substitute to report giving his/her name and the name of the Member being substituted.

To receive apologies for absence.

None declared.

It was RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

None received.

The Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 provides that an item of business may not be considered by a Committee unless it is included on an Agenda.  The Act does, however, make provision for an exception to this general rule to be made where by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

The Chairman advised that a situation had arisen where it had become necessary for the Minutes of the Regulatory Sub-Committee meeting held on 18 May 2018 to be reported to Committee for confirmation, and he was satisfied that there were good reasons for this to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.  He had therefore agreed to include it on the Agenda as Items 6, 7 and 8. 

Full details had been circulated to Members (prior to the commencement of the meeting) as Paper BLR/18/3.  As this included a confidential Minute, it would be necessary for Members to pass the necessary resolution to exclude the public. 

4.1     David Price, Licensing Officer, introduced Paper BLR/18/2 which sought Committee approval for consultation purposes of the draft Statement of Principles (Appendix A to Paper BLR/18/2).  Members also had before them a Summary of Changes made to the Statement of Principles attached as Appendix B.

4.2     The Committee was asked to approve the Table of Fees attached as Appendix C. 

4.3     The Licensing Officer clarified the position regarding the consultation on the draft Statement, the results of which would be reported to the Committee in due course, prior to the Committee being asked to recommend Council to adopt the finalised version of the Statement, to take effect from 31 January 2019 for a period of three years.  The Committee had the power to adopt the Table of Fees.

4.4     The Licensing Officer responded to questions from Members on the draft Statement.  He confirmed that the majority of the changes referred to in Appendix B were of a minor nature, to reflect changes required to comply with the Fifth Edition of the Gambling Commission’s national guidance to local authorities, or to update terms and descriptions.  He will re-visit the list of consultees to ensure it is comprehensive and up-to-date – in this connection it was noted that Age Concern is now Age UK. 

4.5     He also confirmed that any future changes to the rules governing gaming machines would be reflected in Schedule B to the Statement of Principles, by way of an appropriate note to cover the position at the time the Statement is adopted by the Council.

4.6     In response to questions about the Table of Fees, the Licensing Officer advised that the fees charged continue to be the maxima allowed.  Previously there were only five betting shops in Babergh, now increased to six, with the fee split between them, as before.  Some activities such as certain types of Race Nights, raffles and bingo sessions were covered by exemptions.

It was RESOLVED

(1)            That the draft revision Gambling Act 2005 ‘Statement of Principles’ document, attached as Appendix A to Paper BLR/18/2 be approved for consultation purposes.  Further that the relevant officers proceed with the commencement of a period of statutory consultation in accordance with Gambling Act 2005 legislation and regulations.

(2)            That the Table of Fees attached as Appendix C to Paper BLR/18/2 for Gambling Act 2005 functions be adopted to take effect from 31 January 2019.

It was RESOLVED

That the public Minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Sub-Committee held on 18 May 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED

That pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1072, the public be excluded from the meeting for the business specified below on the grounds that if the public were present during this item, it is likely that there would be the disclosure to them of exempt information as indicated against the item.

The Committee was also satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

It was RESOLVED

That Confidential Minute No 6 of the meeting of the Regulatory Sub-Committee held on 18 May 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.