General Licensing Information

Gambling Act 2005

Consultation on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Gambling Policy

The new Act comes fully into force in September 2007. In preparation, each licensing authority is required to develop, consult on and publish a statement of its licensing policy. The statement must set out the principles that the authority proposes to apply in exercising its licensing functions under the Act.

The Gambling Act 2003 aims to promote three key objectives to enable more freedom for business operators and customers, whilst clamping down on crime and disorder and protecting children and the vulnerable.  The three key objectives are:

• Preventing gambling being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way; and
•  Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The Gambling Commission will be responsible for granting operating and personal licences for commercial gambling and personnel working in the industry, while this local authority will licence gambling premises in the Welwyn Hatfield borough. The Commission has an overriding obligation to pursue and have regard to the objectives, and to permit gambling so far as it thinks it is reasonably consistent with them.

What is the council doing?

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Licensing Team will deal with the new changes whilst our Licensing Committee will oversee and manage the process.  The council must also produce a Licensing Policy Statement that explains how it will operate the licensing scheme for the next three years. We are required by law to seek your views on this policy would welcome any comments on the draft policy - please follow this link to download the policy.

If any respondent wishes to make a complaint regarding this consultation then please contact the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing, Mr Nick Long, at the address given below.

A list of bodies consulted can be viewed in Appendix B of the policy. We are interested in comments from anyone who represents the interests of persons carrying on gambling businesses or persons likely to be affected by this authority's function under the Act, so please pass on the details below to anyone who may wish to comment on the policy.

You are welcome to comment by phone, letter, fax, or email. Please mark comments for the attention of:

Mrs K Payne
Environmental Health Licensing Officer
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
The Campus
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Hertfordshire
AL8 6AE

Tel: 01707 357461 Licensing Comment Hotline (anonymous comments accepted)
Fax: 01707 357464
Email: s.mardon@welhat.gov.uk

You can also download leaflets with relevent information for Councillors and Residents

What do you need to do?

This consultation will take place between 12 June 2006 and 1 September 2006. All responses must be received by the closing date of 1 September 2006. Where possible and in accordance with Gambling Commission Guidance and the Gambling Act, responses will be incorporated into the policy and a summary of the responses will be published on the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's website by 1 October 2006.

According to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (2000), all information contained in the response including personal information may be subject to publication or disclosure. Where respondents request that information given in response to the consultation be kept confidential, this will only be possible if it is consistent with freedom of information obligations.

Those affected by the Gambling Act should continue to apply for renewals in the normal way until the beginning of 2007.  Further information on continuation rights under the Act will be sent to you at a later date.

Please be aware that these changes are both new and complicated and will place considerable burdens on the Local Authority and unfortunately Welwyn Hatfield Council Officers will be unable to offer detailed business specific advice. However, officers will be running a workshop session later in the year and you will be contacted with the details.
We look forward to working with you and ensuring that the transition to the new licensing regime is as smooth as possible.

Gambling Act 2005

Responsible Authorities

Chief Officer of Police	Hertfordshire Constabulary	Stanborough Road	Welwyn Garden City	Herts	AL8 6XF
	The Gambling Commission	Berkshire House	168-173 High Holborn	London	WC1V 7AA
Mr P Boast	Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service	Longfield	Hitchin Road	Stevenage	Herts SG1 5AE
Planning	Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council	The Council Offices	The Campus	Welwyn Garden City	Herts AL8 6AE
Environmental Health	Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council	The Council Offices	The Campus	Welwyn Garden City	Herts AL8 6AE
Mr M Benaim	Safeguarding Children Board	Children Schools & Families	Old Grammar School	Broadway	Letchworth Garden City  SG6 3QJ
	HM Revenue & Customs	12th Floor Alexander House	Victoria Avenue	Southend	Essex  SS99 1BD
	Health & Safety Executive	AW House	6-8 Stuart Street	Luton	Beds LU1 2SL