Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Loughlin JP, Makhan Singh and Kenneth Jones.  Councillors Lee Croxton and David Thomas attended as John Loughlin JP and Makhan Singh's substitutes.

Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2006 to be signed by the Chair – minutes previously circulated.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2006 were signed by the Chair.

To declare any interests Members may have in the items contained on this agenda. When declaring an interest a Member must state what their interest is.

No declarations were made.

The Senior Licensing Officer informed the Committee that Licensing Authorities under the Gambling Act 2005 are required to have a Licensing Policy Statement in place and published at least four weeks prior to 31 January 2007.

The consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy commenced on 30 June 2006 and ran until 20 October 2006.  Responses received during this consultation period were entered into an evaluation grid for consideration.  Evaluation of each response and a recommendation as to whether or not to amend the policy statement was conducted by the Senior Licensing Officer in consultation with other Officers of Gravesham Borough Council and the Kent and Medway Regulatory Licensing Steering Group.

Members questioned the Senior Licensing Officer on the proposed amendments to the policy statement.  The Senior Licensing Officer indicated to the Committee that a representative from the Gambling Commission will be invited to address Members at a future meeting.

Section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005 allows licensing authorities to resolve not to issue casino premises licences within its boundaries.  Gravesham Borough Council carried out a public consultation on this issue that finished on 20 November 2006.  The Committee was informed that there had been 29 responses, 25 of which supported a "no-casino" resolution.  The outcome of this consultation and the final version of the Gravesham Borough Council Statement of Licensing Policy will be put before the Council on 12 December 2006 for decision.

Resolved that the responses to issues raised in the consultation exercise contained in the appendix to the report be incorporated within the Statement of Licensing Policy to be put before the Council for approval on 12 December 2006.

Recommended that a "no-casino" resolution be passed by Council on 12 December 2006 under Section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005.

The Committee received the minutes of the Panel held on 13 October 2006.

Resolved that the minutes of the Panel held on 13 October 2006 be noted.