(i)         Petition

The following petition was referred to the Executive from the Council meeting held on 25 January 2022. 

Proposal to develop a health and wellbeing hub on former Keighley College site – Keighley Central Ward.

Note: The Leader stated that this petition will be considered at a future meeting of the Executive.

(i)         Motion 12.8 – Gambling

The following motion was referred to the Executive from the Council meeting held on 25 January 2022. 

Moved by: Councillor Sarah Ferriby

Seconded by: Councillor David Green

The Council notes that over the past 18 months Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee has looked into the issue of gambling-related harm as part of an informal review process.

Whilst we note that much of the gambling industry is regulated at a national level we also note that there is more that we can do to address the issue of gambling-related harm at a regional and local level. We therefore make recommendations to the Government via our MPs regarding national policy as well as making recommendations for action at a local level. Whilst the date of the formal national call for evidence in the gambling review has expired we feel that it is important that our district’s MPs are aware of the views of the Council.

We therefore ask the Executive to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the District MPs and relevant Minister requesting that consideration be given to the following recommendations as part of the ongoing review of national regulations:

i.             The Government should publish a White Paper setting out its next steps by the end of the year.

ii.             Gambling should be considered a public health issue. Current approaches targeting affected individuals substantially underestimate the harms of gambling. Public health approaches to reduce harms related to gambling should encompass a range of population based approaches supported by regulation, legislation and funding.

iii.          Consider a mandatory levy to fund prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm and independent research into the issue. Funding must be spent independently of the companies and exclusively focused on reducing gambling related harm.

iv.          The Government amend the definition of gaming in section 6 of the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate loot boxes as gambling.

v.            To end all gambling advertising, sponsorship and promotion including bonus inducements and VIP schemes; and any exposure of gambling products likely to be viewed by children.

vi.          All new gambling products to be licensed and classified according to a series of harm indicators.

vii.         Introduce limits/caps for online betting, and measures to reduce stakes and speed of play.

viii.       To consider a national membership scheme for those wishing to gamble in person or online.

ix.          Simplify and improve self-exclusion schemes and measures from gambling premises and online sites, enforcing industry adherence and protecting gamblers from harm Locally the committee asks that the council and its partners:

1. Carries out further work to establish the nature and level of gambling at elevated risk in the district, and use its links across Yorkshire and the Humber to develop data and insights on gambling-related harm.
2. Works across Yorkshire and the Humber to produce training and information materials for frontline services to improve the identification of gambling-related harm for those who come into contact with agencies such as social services, mental health and the police.
3. Uses local mechanisms to communicate the reality of gambling activity and related harms (including lived experience), and amplifies regional messaging to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking for those directly affected by gambling and affected others.
4. Establish an officer group on reducing gambling-related harms aligned with the Directors of Public Health, Yorkshire and the Humber and the NHS Gambling Addiction Centre in Leeds.
5. Promote the educational tools that are available to schools and other organisations to engage and raise awareness of gambling-related harm with young people, and use these as a basis for developing programmes that meet the needs of our community and add to local insight.
6. Work with community groups and workplaces to address gambling-related harms, particularly with at-risk groups.
7. Collaborate to develop a public health approach to gambling-related harm across Yorkshire and the Humber, to support local plans self-exclusion, planning, licensing and education.

Note: The Leader stated that the Chief Executive be instructed to write to the District MPs and relevant Minister requesting that consideration be given to the recommendations set out in the motion as part of the ongoing review of national regulations.