Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Proposal:     Application for Premises Licence Gambling Act 2005, New Bingo

Location:      11-13 Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5AA

Applicant:     Cashino Gaming Limited

Councillor James Cole, Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, welcomed all parties to the meeting and confirmed that everyone could hear the proceedings, including Mr Grant, an objector who had joined the meeting by telephone.

Stephen Chard, the Zoom host outlined the procedure for how the Sub-Committee would be run via Zoom.  It was noted that all parties would be asked at regular intervals if they were able to hear the proceedings.  If, at any point, any party could not hear the proceedings, then the Chairman would arrange to return to the point in the meeting when they were able to do so.

All parties confirmed that they had heard the procedure.

The Sub-Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 2(1)) concerning a premises licence under the Gambling Act 2005 in respect of Application No.20/00517LGF - Merkur Slots, 11-13 Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5AA.

Councillor James Cole, Chairman, confirmed the parties present as follows:

The members of the Sub-Committee were Councillor James Cole (Chairman), Councillor Graham Bridgman and Councillor Tony Linden.  Councillor Rick Jones was in attendance as a substitute and would not take part in the discussion or decision making unless he was required to replace a member of the Sub-Committee.

The Solicitor advising the Sub-Committee was Beth Varcoe, and Jo Watt would maintain a record of the proceedings.  The Zoom meeting hosts were Stephen Chard and Moira Fraser.

The Ward Members, Councillors Andy Moore and Martha Vickers, were in attendance and would be invited to speak at the appropriate time in the proceedings.

Councillor James Cole confirmed that Mr Philip Kolvin QC was in attendance to represent the applicant and he would be supported by the following associates:

·       Dr Richard Bradley, Solicitor, Poppleston Allen – for and on behalf of Cashino Gaming Limited;

·       Ms Amanda Kiernan, Head of Compliance, Cashino Gaming Limited;

·       Mr Andy Tipple, Head of Product, Cashino Gaming Limited;

·       Mr Steve Ambrose, Operations Director, Cashino Gaming Limited;

·       Mr Darrell Butterworth an independent Licensing and Security Authority Compliance Consultant.

Councillor James Cole confirmed that the following objectors were also in attendance:

·       Mr Alfie Grant (via telephone);

·       Mr Paddy Whur (Solicitor), representing Mr Charlie Woodhead.

Councillor James Cole explained the order in which parties would be invited to speak and said that all groups of speakers would have ten minutes in total in which to make their case which should take into account the three objectives of the Gambling Act 2005:

(a)  Preventing gambling from being a source of crime and disorder, being associated with crime and disorder or being used to support crime,

(b)  Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, and

(c)  Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Graham Bridgman reminded all parties of the status of the Sub-Committee in relation to Section 153 of the Gambling Act in which there was a presumption in favour of granting these types of licences.

All parties confirmed they had heard the Chairman’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.