Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held 31 October 2016 are attached for approval.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2016 were approved as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee undertook its third evidence gathering session on the review into the impact of gambling on the Borough.  This session focussed on what is known about the scale of harm caused by problem gambling in Gateshead and the impact of this on local people.

The Committee were informed that the term ‘problem gambling’ is one that is difficult to define.  It is, to a degree, something that compromises, disrupts or damages family, personal or recreational pursuits.  Problem gamblers are more likely than other people to experience harms that can include:-

• Financial harms: overdue utility bills, borrowing from family friends and loan shark; eviction or repossession
• Family harms: preoccupied with gambling so normal family life becomes difficult
• Health harms: low self-esteem; stress related disorders; poor sleep and appetite
• School/college/work harms: poor performance; increased absenteeism; expulsion or dismissal

It was highlighted that ‘at risk’ gamblers are people who have experienced some difficulty with their gambling behaviour but who are not classified as ‘problem gamblers’.

It is found that low and moderate risk gambling is higher among men than women and higher among younger age groups.  Factors associated with at-risk gambling are:

• Age (with younger people being more likely to be at-risk)
• Religion
• Cigarette smoking
• Increased levels of alcohol consumption

The Committee noted that mechanisms to effectively record and measure problems caused by gambling in the local community do not exist.  From those approached as part of the this evidence gathering session (Community Safety Team, Safeguarding Adults Team, Public Health, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Gamcare), none were able to provide local statistics about specific problems, nor the numbers of individuals or families affected. 

Rob Burkitt, the lead for Shared Regulation at the Gambling Commission attending the meeting and provided an overview of the Commission’s priorities for 2016/17 that include:

• Increase its focus on putting consumers at the heart of regulation
• Through strengthening the licence conditions and codes of practice on crime, advising on anti-money laundering requirements and reviewing the work of the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, they will work to give consumers further confidence that betting is crime-free and markets are not rigged
• Review the Commission’s enforcement policies and practices to promote credible deterrence

The Committee were informed that the Commission not only issue operators licenses for the larger operators such as William Hill and Coral but following a change in the law, they now provide licenses those who are remote operators (to cover online, telephone etc gambling).

The Committee were provided with research findings, undertaken by Manchester City Council, that highlighted those people who (by theme) may be vulnerable to gambling-related harm.

The Committee commented that the information presented covered a wide cross section of communities, and a wide cross section of people within them. However, they acknowledged that this information could become more comprehensive once organisations are more sophisticated in how this type of data is captured.

The Committee were informed that there is now an expectation for operators to have an understanding of the locality in which their premises  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL17

Report of the Acting Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee considered a report that provided a six month assessment of performance delivery for the period April to September 2016 in relation to the Council Plan 2015 – 2020.

The achievements, key actions and areas for improvement were set out in the report.

The Committee commented on the level of recycling and whilst there have been improvements, the recycling rates have now levelled.  The Committee were informed that the introduction of payment for green waste collection had had an impact on this figure.  We are not aware of any schemes that have yet achieved their 50% recycling target without the collection of food waste. 

However, the service are providing regular information to residents around recycling and the Council believe in the education of recycling rather than progressing the enforcement route.

RESOLVED -            i) That the Committee was satisfied with the activities undertaken during April – September 2016 in relation to the Council Plan 2015 – 2020.

                                    ii) That the report be endorsed for submission to Cabinet at its meeting on 24 January 2017.