Agenda and minutes

Contact: Governance Service Email: governanceservice@barnet.gov.uk 

Note: Virtual Meeting - A live audio stream will be available from this page on the day of the meeting. 

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Linda Freedman be appointed Chairman for this Licensing Sub-Committee meeting.

2.

Absence of Members (If any)

Minutes:

None.

3.

Declaration of Members' Disclosable Pecuniary interests and Non Pecuniary interests (If any)

Minutes:

None.

4.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure pdf icon PDF 230 KB

5.

Report of Trading Standards & Licensing Manager - Merkur Slots, 48 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 8LL pdf icon PDF 4 MB

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a New Bingo Premises

Licence, under section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005 in relation to Merkur Slots, 48 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 8LL.

6.

Applicant's Submission pdf icon PDF 22 MB

Minutes:

The Sub Committee took into consideration the information as provided in the applicant’s submission.

7.

Motion to exclude the Press and Public

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the parties be excluded from the meeting, together with the press and public, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005.

 

8.

Deliberation by the Sub-Committee in Private Session

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee deliberated in private session, accompanied by the Officer from HB Public Law and the Governance Officer.

9.

Re-admission of the Press and Public: Announcement of the decision of the Sub-Committee

Minutes:

 

1.    This is an application for a bingo premises licence by Cashino Gaming Limited (the “Applicant”) for the premises known as Merkur Slots, 48 Golders Green Rd, London NW11 8LL (the “Premises”).

 

2.    The Sub Committee had reviewed and considered all of the papers, including a 204 page bundle submitted by the Applicant. All committee members were in attendance throughout the hearing and could see and hear everything.  The Applicant’s additional bundle included their Local Area Risk Assessments, which set out the local risks in and around the location of the Premises and how the Applicant would address the same in accordance with the licensing objectives and Barnet’s Statement of Principles in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.

 

3.    Representations had been made by the three Ward Councillors on the basis of gambling being used a source of crime and disorder, or being used to support crime.  These objections are set out in the Agenda documents.

 

4.    During his oral representation Mr Kolvin QC, Counsel for the Applicant, highlighted the issues he contended the Sub Committee needed to consider when making its decision and asserted the objectors had not provided evidence to demonstrate that the licencing objectives would not be met by the Applicant.  He argued that there would be no negative impact on the licencing objectives because of the product the Applicant was offering, the way the Premises are managed, the staff training they have and because their clientele is reportedly a slightly older demographic with a higher female proportion of customers. 

 

5.    It was stated that the Police had been consulted prior to the application being submitted and the Applicant had accepted additional conditions proposed by the Police as part of their application.  An email from the Police dated 2nd December 2020 was included in the Agenda documents that confirmed that in view of the proposed additional conditions, they would not be making a formal representation.   Those conditions include additional provisions regarding the installation and operation of a CCTV system, the operation of a “think 25” proof of age scheme with appropriate signage, the installation and use of a maglock device on the main entrance /exit, an intruder alarm and panic button facility system as well as an incident log.  Staffing levels are also to be assessed by way of a risk assessment and any police advice.

 

6.    The Applicant states that they generally have between 5-12 customers in these types of premises at any one time.  In response to further questioning, Mr Kolvin QC explained that although the customer numbers were relatively low at any one time, there was a quicker turnover of customers.

 

7.    It was also stated that the Applicant has 180 licences across the country, including in deprived areas, and that they have often found that fears over crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour that are expressed by people when the Applicant submits a gambling application are not realised after the premises have opened.  It was asserted that their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Any other Item(s) the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

None.