The Merton Council Licensing Committee met on 8 October 2024 to discuss and approve revisions to the council's Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005 and to set new fees for pavement licences. The committee approved the revised gambling policy, which includes a continued no casino resolution, and agreed to implement new fees for pavement licences to ensure cost recovery for the administration and compliance of the regime.

Revised Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005

The committee approved the revised Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005, which will guide the council's licensing functions for gambling premises for the period 2025-2028. A key decision was the re-stating of the council's no casino resolution, which has been in place since 2006. This decision was made following public consultation, where the majority of respondents supported the retention of this policy, citing concerns about potential harm and the character of the predominantly residential borough. The revised policy also incorporates amendments based on consultation feedback, including the inclusion of foodbanks and hospitals in local area profiles used for risk assessments. The approved Statement of Principles will be recommended for adoption by the full council on 20 November 2024.

The Gambling Act 2005 sets out three licensing objectives: preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and protecting children and vulnerable persons from harm. The council's policy aims to align with these objectives, and while it is not possible to ban all gambling premises, the policy outlines principles for assessing applications, including considerations of proximity to sensitive locations and the potential for clustering of gambling establishments. The policy also details the council's approach to various licensing functions, including premises licences, permits, and enforcement.

New Pavement Licence Fees

The committee agreed to implement new fees for pavement licences, reflecting changes in national legislation brought about by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. These changes establish a permanent pavement licensing regime. The new fees, effective from 16 September 2024, will be £500 for new applications and £350 for renewals and variations. Licences will be granted annually to ensure regular assessment of circumstances and changes in the local environment, and to manage potential changes in business ownership.

These revised fees are intended to ensure the cost recovery of administering and monitoring the pavement licensing regime, which had previously been subsidised due to the lower fees introduced under temporary COVID-19 legislation. The proposed fees are within the statutory caps and are comparable to those charged by neighbouring boroughs. The council's street trading account, which funds this regime, has experienced significant income loss, and the new fees aim to bring it back into balance without placing undue pressure on core council funds. The committee noted that these fees are still lower than those charged under previous street trading licences in 2018/2019. The decision to implement these fees was made by a majority vote of 7 to 2.