Agenda and minutes

Venue: VIRTUAL MEETING

Contact: Pakeezah Rahman Email: pakeezah.rahman@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 Claire Farrier 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

Minutes:

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

 

5.

Report of Trading Standards & Licensing Manager - Merkur Cashino 48 Ballards Lane N3 2BX pdf icon PDF 6 MB

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a Bingo Premises Licence for Merkur Cashino, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley N3 2BX.

 

 

6.

Risk Assessment pdf icon PDF 7 MB

Minutes:

The risk assessment was noted by the Sub-Committee.

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.

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

 

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:

PREMISES:    Merkur Cashino, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley N3 2BX (the “Premises”)

  

APPLICANT:  Cashino Gambling Limited

  

ON 5 November 2020 following a remote hearing before the Licensing Sub Committee,

 

The London Borough of Barnet, as the Licensing Authority for the Premises RESOLVED:

 

The application for a Bingo Premises Licence for Merkur Cashino, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley N3 2BX, as amended so that the opening hours of the Premises are 09:00hrs to 00:00hrsMonday to Sunday, is GRANTED.

 

 

REASONS:

 

1.         This was a hearing to determine an application by Cashino Gambling Limited for a Bingo Premises Licence under the Gambling Act 2005 (the “Act”) for Merkur Cashino, 48 Ballards Lane, Finchley N3 2BX, (the “Premises”). 

 

2.         The Premises are not currently licensed and are located in a mixed commercial and residential area.

 

3.         The Hearing was conducted remotely and all three members of the Sub-Committee were in attendance throughout the same, and during deliberations, to see and hear all the representations and to consider the application.  

 

4.         The application includes proposed conditions that have been seen and agreed by the Police.  These include measures such as the use of CCTV, the implementation of a Challenge 25 scheme and signage for the same, appropriate staffing levels with no pre-planned single staffing at the Premises after 20:00hrs until closing and an incident log book.  In addition to the published Agenda documents, the Sub-Committee also received a further bundle of documents from the Applicant that included various documents such as the Applicant’s local area risk assessments, witness statements, the Applicant’s operating procedures and excerpts from the Gambling Commission’s Guidance to Local Authorities (the “Applicant’s Bundle”).  The Applicant also confirmed it was amending the application so that the opening hours sought were now 09:00 to 00:00 Monday to Sunday.   

 

5.         During the consultation process the Authority received 23 representations that are set out in full in Annex 3 to the Agenda documents.  These raise a number of issues with the main concerns appearing to be the opening of a further gambling premises when there are already 4 other gambling premises in the area, concerns this would increase incidents of anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour in the area, that having further gambling premises would make gambling more attractive to young and vulnerable people and concerns over children’s welfare generally.  There were also concerns that granting this licence will cause more people to loiter in and around the Premises, which would make people feel unsafe as they walk past during late hours, as well as add to parking problems in the area.  Issues were also raised about the number and type of gaming machines in the Premises and various comments associated with a general or moral dislike of gambling and the effects this has on people, particularly vulnerable people, and their families.

 

6.         The objectors generally did not accept that finishing at midnight was appropriate. It was understood that there were also issues with some of the objectors receiving copies of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Any other Item(s) the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

None.