Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Brown, Jody Hanafin, Andy McGuinness and Lou Rossati.

There were no declarations of interest.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Committee for the remainder of the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

It was RESOLVED that Councillor Maureen McKay be elected as Vice-Chair of the Committee for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 18 December 2017 for signature by the Chair.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 December 2017 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note the Terms of Reference for the Committee, as agreed by Annual Council on 22 May 2019.

It was RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for the Committee, as approved at the Annual Council meeting held on 22 May 2019, are noted.

To consider the Council’s draft Statement of Principles, as required under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Committee considered a report in respect of the proposed draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles.

The Senior Environmental Health and Licensing Manager presented the report and, assisted by the Commercial and Licensing Manager, answered a number of questions raised by Members.

The following comments and amendments to the proposed Statement of Principles were made by Members:

·      The Committee was concerned with the wording of introductory Paragraph A1.4 of the proposed Statement of Principles, which outlined some of the socio-economic factors in respect of the town.  It was considered that, as there was no evidential link between this paragraph and gambling in the Borough, it was agreed that this paragraph be removed from the document;

·      The Committee acknowledged that new Licence Holders would be required to submit local Risk Assessments in association with their licence applications.  At the request of Members, Officers undertook to investigate whether or not it would be permissible to require existing Licence Holders to submit such Risk Assessments for their premises (possibly by sourcing Best Practice from other licensing authorities);

·      Local Area Profile – Officers confirmed that it was the intention to develop such a profile during the life of the proposed Statement of Principles (2019 – 22), including socio-economic factors, in order to act as a guide which gambling operators could use when undertaking and preparing their local premises risk assessments; and

·      Members requested Officers to provide them with details regarding a proposed promotional event on the Gambling Act to be held later in June 2019.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That the proposed Stevenage Borough Council Gambling Act draft Statement of Principles 2019-2022, attached at Appendix A to the report, and as amended, be supported.

2.         That the Executive be requested to agree the Stevenage Borough Council Gambling Act draft Statement of Principles for onward recommendation to Council.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.         That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.         That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.         That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.         That, having considered the reasons for the following items being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.