Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2018 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as an accurate record.

Pursuant to the following resolution set out in minute 5:

‘‘Resolved: (Unanimous) That the Senior Specialist Advisor for Licensing be given delegated authority to undertake a six week consultation exercise with the Taxi trade to draft a proposal on increasing hackney carriage fares for consideration at a future committee meeting.’’

Councillors were informed that officers had received further documents from one driver with a suggested tariff of fares and that it was suggested that the trade in general be re-consulted. This was agreed by the committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Choudhury, Coles, Hearn, Murray and Robinson.

There were none.

On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes).

There were none.

The Chair to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.

Pursuant to the following recommendation of the General Licensing Committee meeting held on 1 October 2018:

‘‘Resolved: (Unanimous) (2) That the submission from the Eastbourne Disability Group be considered and, where appropriate, incorporated into the draft guidance for consideration at a future meeting.’’

The committee was informed that the amended draft which addressed the Eastbourne Disability Involvement Group’s comments would come back to the committee in due course; however it was not yet ready for consideration due to workload pressures which included the Statement of Gambling Principles, the Licensing Act renewal and responding to updates in Legislation. Councillors expressed disappointment that they were not updated before the meeting that there would be a delay, as they were under the impression it would be presented to this meeting.

The Chair to report any requests received to address the Committee from a member of the public or from a Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the meeting.

There were none.

Report of Interim Director of Service Delivery.

The committee received the report which requested that Councillors consider and approve the recently reviewed and revised Statement of Gambling Principles.  Councillors noted Appendix B, which set out responses to consultation, and had been published after the agenda report.

The Senior Specialist Advisor (Licensing) referred to Appendix A which detailed the proposed changes to the Council’s Statement of Gambling Principles, these were highlighted in red. In addition, officers explained that the Licensing Officers had recently attended a meeting with the Gambling Commission at which time it was recommended that all current premises license holders be required to undertake risk assessments and have the assessments available for inspection at the premises. Further Officers also accepted that the Statement had missed out the word “not” which the Officers were content to include in the highlighted part of page 24.

The committee queried whether compulsory CCTV on all gambling premises in Eastbourne could be implemented into the policy as a deterrent for crime. Officers stated they would consider the remit of the Statement and consider whether it was possible to implement this in the future.

Councillors were informed that the April 2019 changes to the maximum bet on fixed-odds betting terminals would not affect the category of machines other than the minimum stake.

The committee queried whether all door supervisors could be SIA licensed and if this could be included in the policy. Officers advised Councillors that they would look into this.

Councillors noted that, following the May election, training would be available which would provide information specific to the Eastbourne Borough.

Resolved: (Unanimous)

1.     That the reviewed and revised Statement of Gambling Principles be agreed and recommended to full Council; and

2. That officers noted Councillors queries regarding compulsory CCTV on gambling premises and would look at the remit of Gambling Act and consider ways that it could be implemented in the future.

Reason:

1.     To ensure a comprehensive and workable Statement of Principles is in place and that Eastbourne Borough Council complies with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005; and

2. To enable the General Licensing Committee to consider the proposed changes.