Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Claire Farrier be appointed Chairman for this Licensing Sub-Committee meeting.

At 10:30am the Chair welcomed all parties and noted that the legal officer had arrived late.   The Chair adjurned the meeting in order for a legal briefing to be conducted.

At 10:49am the meeting reconvened.    The representative from the Barnet Society raised a question in regard to the flow of decision making and if the planning application should have been determined before the Licensing Sub-Committee consider the matter for Merkur Slots 118 High Street Barnet EN5 5XQ.   It was noted that the meeting was established in order to consider an application for a New Bingo Premises Licence, under section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005 only.  The Chair noted that the meeting would continue.

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Anne Hutton who was substituted by Councillor Claire Farrier.   

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Andrea Bilbow who was substituted by Councillor Zakia Zubairi

None.

The Chairman explained the procedure that would be followed at the meeting.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a bingo Premises licence by Merkur Slots UK Limited Premises: Merkur Slots, 118 High Street, Barnet EN5 5XQ

RESOLVED that the parties be excluded from the meeting, together with the press and public, in accordance with the Regulation 14(2) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings and Regulations 2005).

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

Decision

Re: Application for a bingo Premises licence by Merkur Slots UK Limited

Premises: Merkur Slots, 118 High Street, Barnet EN5 5XQ

1.        This is an application for a bingo premises licence by Merkur Slots UK Limited (the “Applicant”) for the premises known as Merkur Slots, 118 High Street, Barnet EN5 5XQ (the “Premises”).

2.        The Sub Committee reviewed and considered the written and oral representations by the parties, which included a supplemental bundle of documents submitted by the Applicant.  

3.        The application and the Applicant’s additional bundle included their Local Area Risk Assessments, which identifies the local risks in and around the location of the Premises and the measures proposed by the Applicant on how it would seek to address those risks in accordance with the Gambling Commission’s code of practice, the Gambling Commission’s guidance, the licensing objectives and Barnet’s Statement of Principles in relation to the Gambling Act 2005. 

4.        With regard to the licensing objectives the application includes additional proposed conditions to be included on any premises licence.  These conditions relate to the installation and operation of a CCTV system, use and prominent signage of a Think 25 proof of age scheme, use of a magnetic locking device on the main entrance / exit, an intruder alarm with a panic button and maintenance of an incident log book. These proposed conditions are set out in full in the application.  The Agenda documents include an email from the Police stating these proposed conditions are sufficient to support the [licensing] objectives and there are no objections from the Police.  These proposed conditions apply to the issue of prevention of gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime as well as to the protection of children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

5.        The Applicant’s local area risk assessments and oral representations also provide further information on its measures to address the crime and disorder objective with it being said no alcohol or drug misuse is permitted in the Premises, people intoxicated through alcohol or drugs are not permitted, staff training to identify suspicious activity and how to deal with aggressive associates, monitoring of the outside of the Premises and surrounding area for anti-social behaviour.  These are set out more fully in the Agenda documents and the Applicant’s Supplementary Bundle.

6.        With regard to the protection of children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, the Applicant will not permit under 18s into the Premises and notices to that effect displayed on the entrance, age verification checks are carried out as well as test purchases.  Training and guidance is also provided to staff on identifying and dealing with vulnerable people and player protection schemes are also available.  Again, these are set out more fully in the Applicant’s local area risk assessments and were also expanded upon at the sub-committee hearing.

7.        At the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

None.