Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

It was MOVED by Councillor Srininvasan and SECONDED by Councillor Bird and RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Patsy Cummings as Chair of the meeting.

Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act 2011, they are required to consider in advance of each meeting whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI), some other registrable interest (ORI) or a non-registrable interest (NRI) in relation to any matter on the agenda. If advice is needed, Members should contact the Monitoring Officer in good time before the meeting.

If any Member or co-opted Member of the Council identifies a DPI or ORI which they have not already registered on the Council’s register of interests or which requires updating, they must urgently complete the disclosure form which can be obtained from Democratic Services at any time, copies of which will be available at the meeting for return to the Monitoring Officer.

Members and co-opted Members are required in general to disclose any relevant DPIs, ORIs or NRIs at the meeting –

• Where the matter relates to a DPI they may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the room unless granted a dispensation.
• Where the matter directly relates to the financial interest or wellbeing of an ORI they may not vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation.
• Where a Member or co-opted Member has an NRI which directly relates to or affects their or a relevant person’s financial interest or wellbeing, whether they can participate in any discussion or vote on the matter or stay in the room depends on the detailed rules in paragraphs 7 of Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

The Chair will invite Members to make their disclosure of interests orally at the meeting and they will also be recorded in the minutes.

The Chair disclosed that she was at the premises directly after an incident on Geroge Street two weeks prior to the hearing.

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Sub-Committee is asked to determine whether to grant the application for a Bingo Premises Licence at 41 George Street, Croydon, CR0 1LB.

The Chair outlined the procedures for the Licensing Hearing in line with the Licensing Act 2003 and the Council’s protocol.

Gerald Gouriet, the barrister appearing for the applicant was present.

Felix Faulkner, the solicitor representing the applicant was present.

Steven Ambrose, the Operations Director at Merkur Slots UK Limited was present.

Amanda Kiernan, the Head of Compliance at Merkur Slots UK Limited was present.

Nigel Davis, the Head of Gaming Machines at Merkur Slots UK Limited was present.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing introduced the application to the Sub Committee.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing explained that under the Gambling Act 2005, the Council was the Licencing authority and therefore was responsible for issuing premises licences and different types of permits so if somebody wished to provide licensable gambling activities, they would need to apply to the Council for that permission.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing informed the Sub Committee that the application had been made under Section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005 by Merkur Slots UK Limited for a premises licence bingo at 421 George Street, Croydon.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing explained that a bingo promises licence permitted activities such as bingo, prize gaming and the provision of a certain number or percentage of gaming machines.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing stated that there was a vicinity test with respect to the Gambling Act, and an interested party was defined by the Gambling Act as someone who lived sufficiently close to the premises or had business interests that may be affected by the authorised activities. The applicant had been provided with a copy of the representations made.

The Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing informed the Sub Committee that once the 28-day consultation period ended, an applicant or any party that had made representations could submit further information in support of their position. Members had been sent documentation provided by the applicant in support of their application, as well as documentation from the company in respect of its operation; copies of these documents were also sent to the parties that have made representations.

The barrister appearing for the applicant, Gerald Gouriet, was given the opportunity to speak. Gerald Gouriet advised:

• The incident on the 10th of February occurred after all the documentation was launched.
• The application sought a relocation of premises from 12 High Street, the mechanism for relocation under the Gambling Act 2005 is that an application for a new licence was made and, if the licence application was granted, before opening those premises, the business would surrender is the old licence so that this application, if granted, would not give rise to any additional facilities for gambling in Croydon.
• The police had been consulted and in conjunction with police, additional conditions had been agreed. The additional conditions included a CCTV condition, both inside and immediately outside the premises, a think 25  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10/25

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

This item was not required.