MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

LICENSING ACT 2003 COMMITTEE

12 NOVEMBER 2012

REPORT OF HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC SERVICES

Report prepared by Lorraine Neale

1.           GAMBLING ACT 2005 –STATEMENT OF LICENSING PRINCIPLES

1.1        Issue for Decision

1.1.1   To consider the three yearly review of the statement of gambling principles and agree to recommend to Council a revised statement of licensing principles.

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Democratic Services

1.2.1   That the Council be recommended to agree the Gambling Act 2005 statement of licensing principles attached as an appendix to this report.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The Committee will recall that the Gambling Act 2005 requires the Council to review and agree any changes to its statement of licensing principles every 3 years. The statement has worked well for the past 3 years and the only changes are those set out in the new 4^th Edition guidance issued by the Gambling Commission.

1.3.2   At the Licensing Act 2003 Committee meeting on 30 July 2012 Members agreed the draft for consultation purposes and the consultation has taken place. The 12 week consultation took place between 1/8/12 and 24/10/12 and letters were sent to the consultees listed at Appendix 3 of the Policy. The consultation information and documents were also available on the Councils website during the dates specified.

1.3.3   There were no comments on the draft received during the consultation period.

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.4.1   The Committee could decide not to adopt a statement but to do so would mean it was not complying with the Gambling Act 2005.

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

Corporate and customer excellence is achieved by having an effective and agreed policy in place.

1.6        Risk Management

1.6.1   If the committee does not take action to review, it would not be complying with government legislation.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.7.2   The legal implications are covered in the report   

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1   Gambling Act 2005 Draft Statement of Licensing Principles

1.8.2   Background Documents

1.8.3   None

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?   Yes                                               No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..     This is a Key Decision because: ………………………………………………………………………..   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….       Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..