Agenda item

The Vice-Chair presents the report of the Task Group review of “The impact of gambling on vulnerable communities”.  The Commission is recommended to consider the recommendations in the report and comment as appropriate.

The Commission received the report of the Task Group review of “The impact of gambling on vulnerable communities”.  The Financial, Legal and Equality Implications for inclusion in the report were tabled at the meeting and are attached at the end of these minutes for information.

Councillor Gugnani, Chair of the Task Group, introduced the report, drawing attention to the following points:-

·           From an early stage, the review had attracted the attention of the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), who represented powerful stakeholders in the gambling industry.  A complete session of evidence was received from the ABB’s top representatives;

·           Guidance and advice was received from the Local Government Association and the Gambling Commission, which both had followed the review with interest;

·           The Task Group had drawn on a wide range of expert evidence, including important research for Westminster and Manchester councils on the risk of gambling causing damage within communities.  Advice and guidance also had been received from Heather Wardle, the author of the research for Westminster and Manchester;

·           Departments across the Council had been very willing to provide information and work on projects within this review, which had been an important aspect of the review.  These included:

a)     STAR (Supporting Tenants and Residents), which had interviewed people to establish if they had gambling problems; and

b)     The Revenues and Benefits service had collated mapping information, identifying the location of betting shops in a range of social and economic contexts;

·           The mapping referred to above already had been used by the Council’s Planning service;

·           This review had identified that the government was not undertaking a scheduled review of stake limits on fixed-odds betting terminals;

·           One underlying issue identified was that it was assumed that many people were ashamed to talk about problems with gambling, so data was not being collected;

·           A wide range of recommendations had been made as a result of the review.  These included a proposed framework for measuring the risk of gambling within a particular area, which currently was not being done in most areas of the country; and

·           It was recognised that there were risks associated with this review.  For example, in other parts of the country, the gambling industry had put pressure on councils that wanted to take action through gambling licensing.

The Service Improvement Manager (Revenues and Customer Support) addressed the Commission, explaining that:

o    Modelling had been undertaken to predict the impact of the recommendations made in the Task Group’s report.  From this, it was apparent that the report provided a very good evidence base, with indicators that would be valuable in the future.  Members therefore were asked to endorse the recommendations made;

o    The work by Heather Wardle referred to above identified various things, such as mental health or substance abuse, which could have causal or tangential links to gambling.  These also had been mapped;

o    There had been concern nationally that gambling institutions had moved from “back streets” to city centres.  When mapped, it showed that these locations related very closely to areas of multiple deprivation and often were close to other indicators of gambling harm, such as money loan businesses and food banks.  These were all issues that could be considered when deciding on applications for licenses for gambling establishments; and

o    Although information had been provided on crime in the vicinity of gambling establishments, information was needed on the types of crime these were, (for example, whether there was a high incidence of acquisitive crime), both before and after the gambling establishments were in the area.

The Service Manager (Estate Management and Tenancy Support) tabled summary of the results of the survey of gambling by people using the STAR service.  A copy of this is attached at the end of these minutes for information.

The Service Manager (Estate Management and Tenancy Support) explained that:

§   The service mainly worked with Council tenants who, for a variety of reasons, were vulnerable people experiencing barriers to maintaining their tenancy;

§   Data on gambling had not previously been gathered, so it was decided to aim to interview 50 service users, using a basic anonymous questionnaire;

§   In total, 46 people were interviewed, approximately half of whom said they had issues relating to gambling.  Many of those using gambling as a pass-time had high levels of debt and were not spending money on things such as paying bills or providing food for their family; and

§   Officers working with STAR currently were not trained in dealing with gambling issues, but it was hoped that in the future routine data collection on gambling issues could be embedded in the service.  This would help officers support service users and identify the proportion of their income being used on gambling.

In response to questions from Members, the Licensing Team Manager confirmed that the number of fixed-odds betting terminals that could be installed in a gambling establishment was regulated and the Task Group Chair confirmed that the report contained a recommendation that betting establishments should not be located near children’s play areas.

Councillor Sood, (Assistant City Mayor – Communities and Equalities), welcomed the Local Impact Assessment contained in the report.  However, she expressed concern that:

Ø  There was a need to talk to people with gambling problems and hear what those problems were, as they could vary widely;

Ø  If people did not have a job, they could socialise by spending more time at gambling establishments;

Ø  Hearing of other people’s successes could encourage people to gamble more, so consideration should be given to not including comments from successful gamblers in the report;

Ø  An increasing number of gambling establishments were opening near places of worship;

Ø  The presence of gambling establishments had a negative impact on property values, as people did not want to live near the establishments; and

Ø  Some people had been assaulted at gambling establishments, although many of these incidents were not reported.

Councillor Waddington, (Assistant City Mayor – Jobs and Skills), also welcomed the report and the detailed evidence contained in it.  She advised the Commission that she would commend the report’s recommendations to the Executive, stressing the need for action to be taken immediately.  She also suggested that a representative from the Task Group should present the report to the Executive.

In summary, Councillor Gugnani thanked all Members and officers who had participated in the review for their input, with particular thanks being extended to the Scrutiny Policy Officer.  Councillor Gugnani stressed that, as the report was gathering evidence, it was important to record that received on both the positive and negative aspects of gambling.  He therefore asked the Commission to endorse the recommendations contained in the report.

AGREED:

1)    That the report of the Task Group review of “The impact of gambling on vulnerable communities” be welcomed and the recommendations contained within it endorsed;

2)    That the Chair of the Overview Select Committee be asked to endorse the report of the Task Group review of “The impact of gambling on vulnerable communities” for onward submission to the Executive for consideration, this process having been agreed by the Overview Select Committee, (minute 99, “Scrutiny Commissions’ Work Programmes”, 24 March 2016 refers);

3)    That an update on progress with implementing the recommendations contained in the Task Group report on “The impact of gambling on vulnerable communities” be considered by this Commission in six months’ time; and

4)    That, subject to approval of the recommendations contained in the report referred to above, the Scrutiny Policy Officer be asked to liaise with the Association of British Bookmakers and other stakeholders to establish a local forum with the aim of reducing the risk of the impact of gambling on vulnerable individuals and communities, this to be progressed as soon as possible.