BUSINESS ITEMS

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Patricia Patten and Paul Singh.

There were no declarations of interest.

DECISION ITEM

To award Wolverhampton’s Gambling Act 2005 small casino premises licence.

The Strategic Director, Delivery presented a report which advised the Committee on the work of the Casino Evaluation Panel at stage 2 of the small casino premises licence application process and recommended that Wolverhampton small casino premises licence be granted to Casino 36 Ltd. He advised that, as the Council’s Corporate landlord, he had had no involvement in respect of the planning permissions or the sale of the property.

The members of the Casino Core Evaluation Panel which included experts in the gambling industry were introduced to the Committee and they briefly outlined their backgrounds and involvement to date.

Naomi Gilchrist advised the Committee that Casino 36 currently held an operating licence under the Gambling Act 1968.  They were further advised that Casino 36 cannot operate under two licences and would either have to surrender or transfer the current licence to another premises, prior to the Licensing Authority issuing the small casino premises licence.  It was confirmed that the Committee was recommended to ‘grant’ rather than ‘award’ the licence and that the legislation and guidance was contradictory in this respect.

Ewen Macgregor advised that it was the expectation of the Evaluation Panel that the premises would be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as part of the application, prior to the issue of the licence. Naomi Gilchrist advised that, should the Committee be minded to grant the Licence, they might wish to attach conditions to ensure that this expectation is realised; the Licensing Authority would then issue the licence as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with section 164 of the Act. 

Responding to questions Mr Ballard and his legal representative confirmed that:

·         the additional 133 job were full time equivalents;

·         alcohol would not be served 24 hours per day;

·         all staff are trained in regard to social responsibility by a member of staff approved by the Gambling Commission;

·         an undertaking had been given to the local church to provide training for their staff in recognising problem gamblers;

·         consideration would be given to any request for an extension passed the agree three year period to sponsor local counselling programmes should this prove necessary, and

·         Casino 36 is an existing building and it is planned that works will be carried out in various phases operating under the small casino premises licensing from the outset.  It was not possible to move into the new are under the existing licence (the applicant indicated that he had not been made aware that conditions were being proposed until the previous evening).

Resolved:

            (a) That Wolverhampton’s Gambling Act 2005 small casino premises

           licence be granted to Casino 36 Ltd.

            (b) That a further meeting of the Licensing Committee be scheduled to

take place at 10am on 9 July 2014 to consider condition/s to be added to the licence and that, in the meantime, officers meet with the applicant and his legal adviser to discuss the proposed condition/s

            (c) That a further report be presented to the Cabinet (Resources) Panel

in order to agree the proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.