Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Richard Barnes be appointed Chair for this Licensing Sub-Committee meeting.

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

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Variation of a Bingo Premises Licence, under section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005 for Merkur Slots, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London N3 2BX.

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).

Prior to exclusion, parties were notified that the decision of the Sub-Committee would be announced within 5 working days.

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

Notification of decision following a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing to determine an application for a variation of a premises licence under section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005

PREMISES: Merkur Slots, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London N3 2BX (the "Premises”)

APPLICANT: Merkur Slots UK Limited

TAKE NOTICE THAT ON 28 September 2023 following a hearing before the Licensing Sub Committee (the “Sub-Committee”),

BARNET COUNCIL, as the Licensing Authority for the Premises RESOLVED that:

the application for a premises licence for a variation of a bingo premises licence under section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005 for Merkur Slots, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London N3 2BX is GRANTED, as follows:

Condition 1 as specified under Part 3 of the Bingo Premises Licence restricting the premises operating hours is removed

The default hours for bingo are removed

REASONS:

1.       The Sub-Committee convened to determine an application for a variation of a premises licence for the Premises under section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005.

2.       The Application seeks to remove condition 1 as specified under Part 3 of the Bingo Premises Licence restricting the Premises’ operating hours and to remove the default hours for bingo.

3.       The Premises are currently licensed under a licence in the name of Cashino Gaming Limited.  The Applicant explained that the Applicant company’s new trading name is Merkur Slots UK Limited. 

4.       The Licensing Sub-Committee carefully considered all the relevant information including:

·       Written and Oral representations made by all the parties

·       The Gambling Act 2005 and the steps appropriate to promote the Licensing Objectives

·       The Guidance to Licensing authorities issued by the Gambling Commission

·       The Council’s Statement of Principles 2022-2024 issued as required under the Gambling Act 2005

·       The Human Rights Act 1998

5.       As part of the consultation process the Authority received no representations from Responsible Authorities.    

6.       Representations were received from 16 local residents including the Ward Councillor objecting to the Application.  The representations can broadly be described as objecting to the Licence on the basis of protecting children from harm and public nuisance. 

7.       The Applicant also submitted representations from Philip Kolvin KC, its Operations Director, its Head of compliance and its Head of Product as well as Covert Inspection reports into other premises run by the Applicant and supporting documents in support of the Application. 

8.       The Applicant was present at the hearing and was also assisted by Philip Kolvin KC .  In his oral representations, the Applicant’s legal representative addressed the objections that had been made to the application arguing that the Sub-Committee could only have regard to representations which were relevant and which addressed the licensing objectives and that many of the representations made by the objectors were irrelevant as for example alcohol was not sold or consumed on the Premises, although the Applicant’s legal representative conceded that some of the objections raised would be relevant to a planning application that the Applicant would have to make.  Although the Sub-Committee accepted that it was not a relevant question for the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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