Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To elect Chair for 2026 / 2027

DECISION

TO RE-ELECT COUNCILLOR GWYNFOR OWEN AS CHAIR FOR 2026/27

It was proposed and seconded to re-elect Councillor Gwynfor Owen as Chair for 2026/27.

RESOLVED TO RE-ELECT COUNCILLOR GWYNFOR OWEN AS CHAIR FOR 2026/27

To elect Vice Chair for 2026 / 2027

DECISION

TO RE-ELECT COUNCILLOR ARWYN HERALD ROBERTS AS VICE-CHAIR FOR 2026/27

It was proposed and seconded to re-elect Councillor Arwyn Herald Roberts as Vice-chair for 2026/27.

RESOLVED TO RE-ELECT COUNCILLOR ARWYN HERALD ROBERTS AS VICE-CHAIR FOR 2026/27

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Gareth Tudor Jones, Meryl Roberts and John Brynmor Hughes.

Councillor Anwen Davies was having problems with her technology equipment and therefore was unable to attend the meeting.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received from any members present.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

None to note

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 9th of March 2026 be signed as a true record. 

The Chair signed the minutes of a meeting of the committee held on 9 March 2026 as a true record

To submit, for information, minutes of the Central Licensing Sub-committee meeting held on the following dates –

a)     20-03-2026

b)     28-04-2026

The minutes of the Central Licensing Sub-committee held on 20/03/2026 and 27/04/2026 were submitted and accepted for information.

To consider the draft Statement of Gambling Policy in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 and approve it for public consultation.

DECISION:

·        To accept the draft Gambling Policy Statement in accordance with the 2005 Gambling Act.

·        To approve the statement for a public consultation.

A report was submitted by the Head of the Environment Department seeking the Committee's approval of the draft Gambling Policy Statement prior to public consultation, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005. It was explained that if the Committee was to approve the Statement, a 12-week period of public consultation would be held with the Licensing Authority responsible for addressing any responses received, with a request for the Committee to consider any potential changes that had resulted from the consultation.  It was reiterated that the Committee would need to agree a final draft of the Gambling Policy Statement, before submitting it to the Full Council for adoption (in accordance with Section 154 of the Gambling Act 2025).

Some background was provided on the purposes of the Gambling Act 2025 with reference to the three licensing objectives of the Act along with the requirement for Licensing Authorities, every three years, to prepare and publish a declaration of the Licensing Principles they wish to implement as they carry out their functions.

It was explained that the current Gambling Policy Statement had been subject to significant amendments in 2018 and had since been revised in accordance with the 'Gambling Commission's Guidance to Licensing Authorities' published in 2021 and revised in 2025.

It was reported that a review of the draft Policy had been undertaken in consultation with the North Wales Licensing Group with the aim of achieving consistency in implementation across the region. It was reiterated that input had also been received from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's Public Health Directorate Officers, due to the increasing prominence of the harmful effects of gambling on public health.

It was recommended that the Committee, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005, consider the draft Gambling Policy Statement and approve it for public consultation.

The members thanked the officer for the report.

In response to a question about the changes between the current policy and the draft policy it was noted that, following advice on policy and operational matters from the Gambling Commission, there were only minor changes to the draft policy, but that emphasis had been placed on the impact of gambling on the mental health of vulnerable individuals and their families. It was added that evidence from Public Health Wales confirmed these impacts.

In response to a comment regarding concern about over-advertising internet gambling and a question about who was responsible for regulating it effectively, it was noted that while sharing the concerns, the matter was regulated by the National Gambling Commission.

It was proposed and seconded, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005, to approve the draft Gambling Policy Statement for public consultation.

RESOLVED

·       To accept the draft Gambling Policy Statement in accordance with the 2005 Gambling Act.

·       To approve the statement for public consultation.