The Leader of the Council presented report HCS/018 of the Head of Community Services, which detailed the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposed revision of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The Council had received two responses including one from the Director of Public Heath (West Sussex County Council). It was noted that as Crawley Borough Council was the Licensing Authority it was required under the Gambling Act 2005 to approve, following consultation, a Statement of its Licensing policy under the Gambling Act 2005 every three years.

The Cabinet noted the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s support for the recommendations from its meeting on 25 November 2019, as presented by Councillor Rana and as detailed in the Commission’s comments to Cabinet.

Councillor Mullins commented that as part of the consideration of the report, it had been considered by the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 11 November 2019, which supported adoption of the revised policy.

RESOLVED

1)            That the Cabinet notes and endorsed the proposed revised Statement of Licensing Policy Gambling Act 2005 (2020- 2022) (as set out in Appendix A report HCS/018).

2)            That Full Council be recommended to approve and adopt the proposed revised Statement Licensing Policy Gambling Act 2005 (2020-2022) set out in Appendix A of report HCS/018

Reasons for the Recommendations

It is a statutory requirement under the Gambling Act 2005 for a Licensing Authority to prepare a Statement of its Licensing policy every three years. The Council is the Licensing Authority for the borough of Crawley. It is therefore necessary to agree and develop the proposed strategy to discharge the Council’s role in its capacity of Licensing Authority for the 3 year period 2020 – 2022.