Council's Gambling Act Statement of Principles
Wealden District Council is committed to consulting with the community on a wide range of issues.
Background
The Gambling Act 2005, which is being phased in over the next two years (2006-2007) will modernise the law on gambling and introduce a new regulator for gambling, the Gambling Commission to replace the old Gaming Board for Great Britain.
Although the new operator's licences and personal licences introduced by the Act, will be issued and regulated by the Gambling Commission, responsibility for the issue and regulation of premises licences will rest with local authorities. These include premises licences for casinos, bingo halls, betting offices, adult gaming centres and licensed family entertainment centres and betting permits for gaming machines in pubs and other alcohol licensed premises.
Licensing authorities are required, by the new act, to prepare, every three years, a Statement of Principles under the Act (effectively a gambling licensing policy) to show how they will work under the act. The Statement of Principles (pdf) will last three years but may be reviewed from time to time. Wealden District Council has prepared a document that sets out the policies of the Council after consulting with a range of interested parties.
Who did we consult?
All those involved directly with the gambling industry as well as interested parties, including Sussex Police, Town and Parish Councils and the East Sussex Area Child Protection Committee.
Why did we consult?
The views of all concerned are important to the Council in reaching a fair and proportionate policy in respect of gambling within the Borough. We wanted, therefore, to give the industry and other interested parties, including those that use or have strong views about these activities the opportunity to be involved in the formulation of appropriate policies.
When did the consultation take place?
Our consultation took place between 10th July 2006 and 29th September 2006. The consultation period has now finished and the final version of The Statement of Principles (pdf) is now available.
Further comments?
Should you have any future comments regarding this policy statement please send them via email or letter to the following contact:
Name: John Gallop, Head of Environmental Protection;
Address: Wealden District Council, Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex. BN27 2AX
email: environmentalprotection@wealden.gov.uk
It will be of assistance if you could include in your response your name, address and contact telephone number. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, it would also be useful if you could give the name of the organisation and a brief description of who the organisation represents.Confidentiality
We will presume that you are content with your views being published in our Summary of Responses paper unless you indicate otherwise. If you intend to include information of a commercially confidential nature in your response, please make sure that you make this clear to us. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public authorities to disclose information they hold if this is requested. This includes information contained in responses to consultations. If you ask for your response to be kept confidential this will only be possible if it is consistent with the Council’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act.