Agenda item

To receive and consider a report containing information about ways to tackle gambling related harm.

Keiran Hinchliffe, Licensing Service Manager presented the report which outlined best practices for  tackling gambling related harm, in line with Licensing legislation.

The Local Government Association (LGA) Guidance was reviewed as part of the research undertaken on this issue.

An underage sales testing operation was conducted on all betting shop premises in the borough during December 2023 and all operators passed with a challenge to age verification of the young person.

A test purchase was also carried out on an Adult Gaming Centre in Wokingham, which resulted in a failure.  Licensing Officers were currently working with the management of that premises to help identify issues and discuss training needs.  A further test purchase on the premises would be completed within the next six months.

Licensing Officers also carried out compliance inspections of betting shop premises and found that they had local risk assessments to hand and were aware of Gamcare.  They also had advice leaflets available and posters on display for sensible gaming.

The operation described above was a fresh approach and there was no benchmarking.

During the discussion of the item the following comments and questions were made:

·           Members were pleased that this work had been carried out and thanked Officers for their effort.  They were interested to know if there would be periodic operations to ascertain that premises continued to uphold best practices?

·           Members asked if premises were just aware of Gamcare of if they were also certified? What could be done to support them to gain certification?

·           Keiran Hinchliffe agreed to check operators’ certification with Gamcare and report back to the Committee;

·           In relation to the continuation of testing operations, a risk assessment would be undertaken to prioritise Officers workload.  It was apparent that monitoring young people’s access to gaming machines was an area that should continue to be prioritised;

·           The Chairman stated that the young people running for the election of Youth MP for the borough expressed concern about the issues of drugs and vaping.  She asked that a report be brought to the next meeting for discussion about those issues;

·           It was suggested that a joint approach to tackling vaping related issues be considered, given that vapes’ disposal was problematic;

·           Keiran Hinchliffe informed that Trading Standards colleagues were carrying out test purchasing for underage sales of vapes.  They also had some powers in relation to infringement of vapes labelling;

·           Members asked about staff capacity within the Licensing service to carry out test purchasing operations and what criteria was used to decide where to undertake it?

·           Members were informed that there was currently one Licensing Officer in post and several Licensing Processing Officers supporting the processing of applications;

·           Officers took guidance from elected Members as to which areas of work to focus on.  For larger events there was a network of Licensing Managers in the local area who shared resources, for example help was given to monitor Reading Festival and in return help was received for events such as the Henley Regatta;

·           The service also used the services of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) Officers to monitor licensing activities in the borough.  Intelligence was also gathered through notification of convictions;

·           The Public Safety Task and Finish Group was attended by the Licensing Authority, and if issues were identified in relation to crime and disorder, Officers would investigate;

·           The main sources of information were complaints into the services, complaints passed on from other local authorities, information from the Police or from the Public Safety Task and Finish Group;

·           Members asked if drug related issues were dealt with by Wokingham’s Trading Standards or the PPP?

·           It was explained that Wokingham had dedicated Officers from the PPP working in Trading Standards for Wokingham.  Wokingham was able to task them and received regular reports on activity.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Officers be thanked for their work in relation to this item; and

2)     A report containing details about drug and vape issues be brought to the next meeting of the Committee for discussion.