Agenda and minutes

An attendance list is attached as Appendix A to this note.

The Board extended its congratulations to Cllr Andrew Lewer in his new role as MEP.

The note of the last meeting was approved.

Ellie Greenwood (LGA senior adviser on Regulation), gave a brief overview of progress made by the LGA Betting Commission.  This was established in April following meetings between Cllr Tony Page (LGAs licencing champion), LGA officials, and representatives from the major commercial organisations in the industry.

The commission has met twice and is expected to hold its final meeting in September where it hopes to agree:

·         Principles for local engagement

·         A mechanism by which local authorities can escalate concerns about local engagement to a more senior, national level.

In addition the Commission has already given its support to the LGA to update the Gambling Act handbook which is now 4 years old.

It is unlikely that the commission will provide a framework to resolve betting shop clustering or concerns about problem gambling linked to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).  This is not least due to the contrary outcomes resulting from the ambitions of the Gambling Act, competition law, local authorities’ town centre planning, community safety and public health and wellbeing strategies. Additionally there is currently insufficient evidence to directly links community concerns to aspects of the industry such as clustering and FOTB.

Despite this the LGA made some progress in discussions with DCMS by securing a series of limited measures to address community concerns about the impact of the high street gambling industry.  These are set out in para 16 of the report.

The board was asked to:

·         Provide a steer on whether the commission should continue to lobby for a palette of powers and amendments (as set out in para 30), or channel its energies on a single solution;

·         Comment on the current emphasis on powers to manage premises in relation to FOBTs

·         Provide officers with local examples of effective engagement with betting premises or with other industries that could serve as a template

·         Nominate a representative to be involved in the update of the gambling Act handbook.

Action

Members to pass their views, on the points above, to Ellie Greenwood

Decision

Members noted the update.

Members noted the success of the event, in terms of numbers attending and income received and the delegate survey which will be fed into planning for the 2015 conference in Durham on 3 and 4 March..

Laura Caton provided a brief overview of the report that set out the Board’s achievements over the past year and proposals for its priorities and key areas of work in the coming year.

Following members’ comments, the second part would form the basis of a more detailed work programme to deliver these priorities for discussion and agreement at the Board meeting in September.

The discussion by members resulted in the following actions:

i.        That the proposed work programme is more explicit about the need to encourage LEPs to take account of CTS strategies;

ii.        That in connection with the proposed work programme around supporting councils to play a key role in the Magna Carta anniversary celebrations (para 29), the Chair should write to both the Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Magna Carta Committee requesting urgent discussions to ensure that local authorities are fully engaged in the development of national plans (and vice versa).  This is necessary to ensure consistency of messages, and that local and national celebrations as a whole will be integrated in such a way as to be better than their constituent parts; and

iii.        Officers to circulate a brief about the work already undertaken by the LGA in support of local authorities’ contribution to securing community engagement in Magna Carta 800.

Action

Officers to respond accordingly to the actions

a.      New Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

b.      Farrell Review of architecture and the built environment

c.      Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation funding

d.      Sieghart libraries review

e.      First World War resources for councils and communities

f.       Broadband update

g.      CTS Sessions at LGA Annual Conference

h.      Sport, physical activity and legacy

Members noted the report.

Members noted the report.

Sue Wilkinson MBE, Chief Executive, Reading Agency.

Sue Wilkinson (CEX) provided an overview of the work of the Reading Agency and gave members a summary of the work currently underway to develop a new strategy for the organisation.

Sue invited members to comment on both the strategy development work and to propose further areas where Local Authorities and the Reading Agency could co-operate to achieve shared outcomes in relation to the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Action

Members to send any comments and suggestions to Laura Caton who will then collate and pass on to Sue Wilkinson accordingly.

Decision

Members noted the report from Sue

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Smith Square 1 and 2, Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ