Apologies for absence were received from Colin Caller, Senja Compton, Glen Handley, Sara Langdale, John Loughlin, Lyn Milner and Bryan Sweetland.

The Leader of the Council John Burden took the opportunity to thank Rosemary Leadley for the 27 years she had served as a Cllr (seven of which were as Leader of the Labour Group).

Cllr Cubitt endorsed the comments of the Leader and stated that Rosemary Leadley was very worthy of recognition.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2014 were signed by the Mayor.

Cllr Harold Craske declared an interest in agenda item 8 Notice of Motion.  His son was the Director of Public Relations of the Association of British Bookmakers.

To receive and adopt the proceedings reports and recommendations of the following committees except those items reserved under Council Procedure Rule 5.2.(6) and to ratify and confirm the orders made by them.

Motions that proceedings, reports and recommendations of Committees, except those reserved under Council Procedure Rule 5.2(6) as referred to below be received and adopted and where applicable the Orders made by them be ratified and confirmed were duly proposed, seconded and resolved in each case.

Licensing Committee of 5 March 2014

Regulatory Board of 12 March 2014

Overview Scrutiny Committee of 13 March 2014

Cabinet of 31 March 2014

Finance & Audit of 2 April 2014

Regulatory Board of 9 April 2014

To receive and adopt the proceedings, reports and recommendations of committees contained in the list of reserved items under Council Procedure Rule 5.2. (6) and to ratify the orders made by them.

The minutes will be dealt with in the following order:

Licensing Committee

Regulatory Board

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Finance & Audit Committee

Cabinet

It was moved by Cllr Les Howes and seconded by Cllr Lenny Rolles that –

the reserved Minute of Finance & Audit Committee held on 2  April 2014 be ratified and confirmed.

With reference to Minute 61 the Minute was noted.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton that –

the reserved Minutes of Cabinet held on 31 March 2014 be ratified and confirmed.

With reference to Minute 63 the Minute was noted.

With reference to Minute 64 the Minute was noted.

Council acknowledged the work of all those involved in the Scrutiny Review and in particular the contributions made by Carlie Plowman, Christopher Wakeford and Ravy Sarin?Busbridge in Committee Services.

With reference to Minute 64 the Minute was noted.

With reference to Minute 67 the Minute was noted.

Council acknowledged the work undertaken by the Director (Communities) – Melanie Norris in co?ordinating the 12 days of Christmas Project.

Council was advised about the steps taken in carrying out the five year review of the Statement of Licensing Policy.

Amendments to the Draft Statement agreed by Licensing Committee on 17 September 2013 included removal of the vicinity tests; two types of Temporary Events Notices; the suspension of a premises Licence where the fees had not been paid and removal of the Licensing requirement for entertainment facilities.

Resolved that the GBC Statement of Licensing Policy be approved and published.

This council notes:

1.    The prevalence of Fixed odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as “the crack cocaine of gambling”

2.    That, unlike fruit machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades where cash stakes are limited to £2, gamblers can bet with cash or via a debit cards up to £100 every 20 seconds on FOBTs, more than four times as fast as the rate of play in casinos.

3.    That in 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK.  More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, but just 4% play FOBTs.

4.    Empirical evidence that suggests FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling

5.    Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there to be four times as many betting shops in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment

6.    Research carried out by 2CV in Newham, which found that the average bet per spin on FOBTs is £17, and the average amount of cash inserted into the machine is £55 per session, with one in five putting in over £100 a time.

7.    Nationally, more than 80% of turnover in betting shops and more than half of profits are derived from FOBTs.   Less than 20% of stakes in betting shops are over the counter.

8.    A recent economic analysis undertaken by Landman Economics, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which assessed the impact of FOBTs on local economies and across the wider economy.  The report concluded that every £1bn spent of FOBTs produces a net reduction of 13,000 jobs, compared to if spent in the wider consumer economy.   The projected doubling of revenue from FOBTs by 2023 could costs a further 23,000 jobs across the economy.

9.    Concern that the Government has not addressed the issues caused by FOBTs, and the announcement made by Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 10^th October 2013 in response to the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes, where the stakes on FOBTs were unchanged.

10.  The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to outlaw FOBTs in betting shops.

This council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes that the Government should either use the existing legislative framework, or introduce legislation to outlaw B2 casino games in betting shops.

At the very least, local authorities should be given the powers to protect the local amenity and wellbeing of communities by (1) stopping the proliferation of betting shops and (2) reducing the maximum stakes and slowing down the speed of play.

This Council therefore requests:

1.    The Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to outline the terms of this motion and request urgent action against FOBTs by the Government.

2.    The use of the sustainable Communities Act as a means to reduce the maximum stake on Fixed Odds  ...  view the full agenda text for item 53.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded Cllr W Lambert MBE that –

This Council notes:-

1.            The prevalence of Fixed odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as “the crack cocaine of gambling”;

2.            That, unlike fruit machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades where cash stakes are limited to £2, gamblers can bet with cash or via a debit card up to £100 every 20 seconds on FOBTs, more than four times as fast as the rate of play in casinos;

3.            That in 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK.  More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, but just 4% play FOBTs;

4.            Empirical evidence that suggests FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling;

5.            Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there to be four times as many betting shops in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment;

6.            Research carried out by 2CV in Newham, which found that the average bet per spin on FOBTs is £17, and the average amount of cash inserted into the machine is £55 per session, with one in five putting in over £100 a time;

7.            Nationally, more than 80% of turnover in betting shops and more than half of profits are derived from FOBTs.   Less than 20% of stakes in betting shops are over the counter;

8.            A recent economic analysis undertaken by Landman Economics, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which assessed the impact of FOBTs on local economies and across the wider economy.  The report concluded that every £1bn spent of FOBTs produces a net reduction of 13,000 jobs, compared to if spent in the wider consumer economy.  The projected doubling of revenue from FOBTs by 2023 could costs a further 23,000 jobs across the economy;

9.            Concern that the Government has not addressed the issues caused by FOBTs, and the announcement made by Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 10^th October 2013 in response to the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes, where the stakes on FOBTs were unchanged;

10.          The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to outlaw FOBTs in betting shops.

This Council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes that the Government should either use the existing legislative framework, or introduce legislation to outlaw B2 casino games in betting shops.

At the very least, local authorities should be given the powers to protect the local amenity and wellbeing of communities by (1) stopping the proliferation of betting shops and (2) reducing the maximum stakes and slowing down the speed of play.

This Council therefore requests:-

1.            The Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to outline the terms of this motion and request urgent action against FOBTs by the Government;

2.            The use of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor updated Members on the following events:-

·         The Mayor’s Ball that took place the previous weekend and was a great success.

·         The Mayor’s historic tour of Gravesend taking place on 16 April.

·         The Town Twinning visit to Chesterfield, Virginia taking place after the Easter Break, and

·         The arrangements made for the Mayor’s retiring dinner on 9 May 2014.

The Council, led by the Leaders of both groups thanked the Mayor and his Mayoress for all their efforts during the past year.