Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Frink Room (Elisabeth) - Endeavour House. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest by Members

Minutes:

None declared.

2.

MLR/17/1 To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Committee held on 1 April 2016 pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the Minutes of the Regulatory Committee meeting held on 1 April 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

3.

MLR/17/2 To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee held on 1 April 2016 pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the Minutes of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee meeting held on 1 April 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

4.

To receive notification of petitions in accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme

Minutes:

None received.

 

5.

MLR/17/3 Gambling Act 2005 - Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTS) - Government Consultation on Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Report by the Licensing Officer attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer presented paper MLR/17/3 advising Members of the current consultation exercise being undertaken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) on proposed changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, which includes the issues surrounding Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), classified as category B2 gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005 in betting shops. Members were asked to consider whether they wished to make comment on the Government consultation paper.

 

During the course of the discussion, Members generally agreed that the maximum stake on FOBTs should be reduced from £100 to £2 however there was concern that this may move the problem elsewhere and result in increased online gambling. Members were of the opinion that online gamblers based in the UK should be registered in the UK. There was concern about the increase in and regulation of gambling advertising on television and at public events. There was also a suggestion that the bright lights and music associated with FOBTs be reduced to make them less attractive.

 

It was agreed that a submission be prepared by the Licensing Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair and agreed with the rest of the Committee, to include the following responses to the questions in the consultation document and Member comments above:

 

Q1 – Option 4

Q2-Q7 – Yes

Q8 – No

Q9 – Yes

Q10 – Yes

Q11-Q13 – Yes

Q14 – Yes

Q15 – Yes

Q16 – Yes

 

RESOLVED

 

1.               That the content of paper MLR/17/3 and the consultation document attached as Appendix A be noted.

 

2.               That a response to the Government consultation be prepared by officers in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair and returned to Committee members for comment prior to submission, to include the points raised by Members.

 

 

6.

MLR/17/4 Cross-Border Hiring of Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Report by the Licensing Officer attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer presented his report (Paper MLR/17/4) advising Members of a letter received from the Deputy Mayor of Transport for London (TFL) raising concerns about cross border hiring of taxi and private hire vehicles, a rapidly growing issue for local authorities nationally.

 

During the course of the discussion, Members generally agreed that they did not wish to lobby the LGA and the DFT at this time as it was felt that the TFL proposals were unenforceable. It was noted that the LGA have set up a working group with the Minister of State John Hayes MP to discuss cross-border matters and other related issues and that the long term aim is for a national licensing database and national licensing conditions which can be enforced irrespective of where the driver and vehicle are licensed. It was agreed that a note be sent to the LGA in support of this working group.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.               That the content of the report and letter received form the TFL be noted.

2.               That the Committee does not wish to lobby the LGA and the DFT on cross border hiring and other associated taxi and private hire vehicle matters.

3.               That a note be sent to the LGA to support and encourage the working group in their discussions on cross-border matters and other related issues, particularly in their long term aim for a national licensing database with national regulations, supported by local knowledge and local regulations where necessary.