Agenda item

Mid Devon District Council (the Council) is required to set out and formally adopt a Statement of Principles advising how it will carry out its duties under the Gambling Act 2005. That statement has to be reviewed every three years and this is its next review.

The Committee had before it a report * from the Head of Housing and Health  which was presented by the Team Leader, (Commercial) Public Health of the Gambling Act Statement of Principles and highlighted the following:-

·       The Gambling Act 3 principles were:-

(i)              Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime.

(ii)             Ensuring that gambling was conducted in a fair and open way.

(iii)           Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

·       Section 349 required Local Authorities to review and publish a Statement of Principles which must be published by January 2025 for Mid Devon District Council (the Council), and was a statutory 3 year process.

·       It was proposed to carry out a minor review to meet these requirements however the Gambling Commission were due to publish revised guidance which would have an impact and a wider review would be carried out by the Council at that stage.

·       A consultation took place for 6 weeks from 12 July 2024 to 23 August 2024 during which 5 responses were received as below:-

(i)              Devon County Council

-        Language and terminology – using the term “harmful” gambling instead of “problem” gambling – this had now been adjusted within the Statement of Principles.

-        To provide additional training to those working in a licensed premises to include the ability to identify and provide support to vulnerable people and also recommendations for sharing and signposting support mechanisms for those experiencing gambling related harm – Both of these would be addressed by updating the Council’s website and to provide links to support networks and organisations.

-        The possible development and implementation of a Local Area Profile to better understand the groups at risk within the Mid Devon District – this would be addressed as part of a more detailed review once the Gambling Commission had published revised guidance.

(ii)             GamCare

-        To explore ways to gather and analyse data to better understand the level of gambling related harm in Mid Devon. To work with partnerships to look at the wider public health approach - those issues would be considered as part of the next review once updated guidance had been issued.

-        The development and implementation of a Local Area Profile – this would be addressed as part of a more detailed review once the Gambling Commission had published revised guidance.

(iii)           Parish Council - they did not give any specific feedback.

(iv)           Village Hall – the response received would not be something that the Statement of Principles would address at a local level

·       As the Statement of Principles was due to be published at the end of 2024 (weeks before it comes into effect on 31 January 2025) it would be presented to Full Council on 30^th October 2024.

Discussion took place regarding:-

·       The fees that the Council charged for services and whether that covered the costs of the services it offered.  It was explained that the annual fee charge included an annual visit and administration costs and that the fees were prescribed.

·       Whether the Statement of Principles also covered online gambling.  It was explained that the Statement of Principles related to premises within the District only.

The Committee RESOLVED that the Gambling Act Statement of Principles as attached in Annexe A be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(Proposed by the Chair)

Note: * Report previously circulated.