Gambling Policy Statement 2010

Part A

2. Introduction

Thanet District Council is situated in the County of Kent, which contains 12 District Councils and 1 Unitary Authority in total. Each is represented on the Kent & Medway Regulatory Licensing Steering Group (K&MRLStGp) whose role includes the identification of issues on which a consistent countywide approach is considered essential and the formulation of recommended policy that establishes a minimum standard on these identified issues.

This policy has been formulated by the K&MRLStGp.

Thanet District Council area has a population of 127,000 making it one of the largest in the County in terms of population. In terms of area it is one of the smallest, covering 40 square miles. Thanet contains the towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. The population is mainly resident in the towns with a spread around the whole coast. There is a rural hinterland.

The areas are shown in the map below.

Map of Thanet

Licensing authorities are required by the Gambling Act 2005 to publish a statement of the principles that they propose to apply when exercising their functions. This statement must be published at least every three years. The statement can also be reviewed from “time to time” and the amended parts re-consulted upon. The statement must then be re-published.

In determining its policy the licensing authority must have regard to the Guidance and will give appropriate weight to the views of those it has consulted.

Thanet District Council consulted widely on this policy statement before finalising and publishing it. A list of the persons consulted and responses is provided at appendix 5.

The Gambling Act requires that the following parties be consulted by Licensing Authorities:

The Chief Officer of Police
One or more persons who appear to the authority represent the interests of persons carrying on gambling businesses in the authority’s area
One or more persons who appear to the authority to represent the interests of persons who are likely to be affected by the exercise of the authority’s functions under the Gambling Act 2005

The list of persons consulted when preparing this Policy statement is deliberately wide. The list of persons this authority consulted can be found at appendix 5.

The consultation took place between the 1st June and 24th August 2009. We have followed the Cabinet Office Guidance on Consultation.

The full list of comments made, the consideration of them by the Council and the reasons given for decisions made in drafting the policy following consultation, is available by request to: Licensing Department, Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate CT9 1XZ, 01843 577753.

The policy was approved at a meeting of the Full Council on the 15th October 2009 and was published on our website. Copies have been placed in the public libraries of the area as well as being available in the principal Council Offices. Should you have any comments as regards this policy statement please send them via email or letter to:

Name: Philip Bensted, Licensing Manager

Address: Licensing Department, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate CT9 1XZ

E-mail: philip.bensted@thanet.gov.uk

This policy statement will not override the right of any person to make an application, make representations about an application, or apply for a review of a licence. Each application or representation will be considered on its own merits and according to the statutory requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 and the Guidance issued by the Gambling Commission (the Guidance).

3. Declaration

In producing this final licensing policy statement, this licensing authority declares that it has had regard to the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005, the Guidance, and any responses from those consulted on the policy statement.

Next: Casinos

Contents

Part A

1. The licensing objectives

2. Introduction

3. Declaration

4. Casinos

5. Functions

6. Responsible Authorities

7. Interested parties

8. Exchange of information

9. Enforcement