Barnet Council will write to the culture secretary backing a new approach to licensing reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Labour councillor Emma Whysall tabled a motion on gambling (credit – Barnet Labour)

Barnet Council has joined over 40 councils from across the country calling for gambling laws to be reformed.

Labour councillor Emma Whysall, while delivering a motion at a full council meeting last night (Tuesday 8th), said the council had resolved to write to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and relevant government departments urging for immediate reform of gambling laws.

Over 40 councils, led by Brent, have written to Lisa Nandy backing a ‘Six Point Plan’ for reform.

The plan calls for the government to reform the ‘aim to permit’ policy, to allow councils to refuse gambling premises that pose risks to local safety, introduce greater restrictions on gambling advertisements, and direct proceeds from the statutory levy on gambling operators to fund harm and prevention treatment.

Cllr Whysall said the council’s current position when considering licensing applications for gambling establishments was “to permit”, a result of a “permissive” local legislation.

She said the council was not given the opportunity to “limit the number of gambling establishments or the ability to control the density of establishments in an area”.

Cllr Whysall said: “This leaves both our residents and those of us who represent them deeply frustrated. Something has to change and the only way it’s going to change is to change the law.”

She added that the gambling industry’s profits for 2023/24 were £15.6 billion, up 10.2% compared to pre-pandemic figures and £2.5 billion of this figure was solely from gambling machines, up 24.5% compared to pre-pandemic figures.

Cllr Whysall continued that 1.3 million people were “experiencing harm” from gambling and NHS England reported a 130% increase in referrals for gambling addiction last year.

Julia Brown, a Golders Green resident, who leads a charity supporting young people’s mental health, gave a deputation earlier in the meeting highlighting the “spread of gambling outlets” in the borough.

She said she had seen the “devastating impacts” of “too many gambling establishments” and there was an “increasing concentration” of bookmakers and adult gaming centres on Golders Green high street.

“Problem gambling destroys finances, breaks up families and pushes people towards eviction, poverty and crisis, “ she said.

Julia also voiced her support for the council’s motion.

Conservative councillor Jennifer Grocock delivered a counter-motion, which crossed out some lines from the Labour group’s motion and added all the fault could not be placed “at the door of the industry”.

She said: “As a council we need to be wary of scapegoating the industry instead of supporting those who need the help.”

However, the Conservative’s counter-motion was voted down and Cllr Whysall’s motion was approved with 34 votes in favour, made up of the Labour councillors.

There were no rejections or abstentions and, since Labour have a majority, the motion was carried.

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