WIREDGOV

The blight of betting shops spreading across our high streets should be tackled by tough new licensing powers handed to councils to protect their communities and businesses.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, has yesterday set out how the Government should reform the current licensing system which includes toughening up powers to tackle the growing issue of clustering.

Betting industry bosses have this week come out in favour of reforms with William Hill chief Ralph Topping calling for councils to be handed greater powers to block the opening of new shops on already clustered high streets.

The LGA will also be writing to BetFred chief executive Fred Done to take up his invitation to set up a gambling industry and LGA taskforce to address concerns.

Research released by Deloitte this week into the future of high streets found 52 per cent of people wanted to see fewer betting shops on their high street. Councils want to act on these concerns and protect their communities from clustering but are increasingly frustrated by a restrictive planning and licensing system.

Changes to permitted development planning rules last year are making it easier for betting firms to convert existing buildings without the need for planning permission.

This just leaves licensing controls but councils are then restricted by ineffective licensing powers that do not allow them to take into account the number of betting shops already present in a local area or the economic and social impact of this.

To solve the problem, the LGA is calling for Government to allow councils to consider ‘cumulative impact' when making licensing decisions about betting shops and other facilities – this would force betting firms to prove that new shops would not have a negative impact on local economic growth or existing businesses.

A wider set of licensing objectives would allow councils to fully take into account the social and health impacts of gambling on local communities.

Cllr Tony Page, LGA licensing spokesman, said:

"Councils aren't anti-bookies but need powers to tackle the damage that can be caused to high streets and town centres by the clustering of betting shops.

"Planning and licensing controls are supposed to ensure new shops or business will benefit an area but the current system is preventing councils from acting on community concerns. The result is many of our high streets becoming saturated with betting shops and councils left powerless to act to limit the number opening up in their area.

"Licensing laws must be updated to allow councils to consider the impact a new betting shop would have on their local economy and existing businesses. This would protect the power of local communities and democratically-elected councillors to shape their area.

"Betting industry firms like William Hill and BetFred have come out in support of tougher powers for councils and we are keen to work with them further. The Government must now also join us around the table and commit to reforming the licensing powers available to local people and their councils to take decisions that are right for their communities."

Case studies

• The number of betting shops in Islington has already doubled in the last decade to 72, while Newham has 81 betting shops. Tottenham High Road, in Haringey is home to 11 betting shops alone.
• Greater London Authority figures show a 13 per cent increase in betting shops in London's town centres between January 2010 and December 2012.
• There are 39 licensed gambling premises in Stockport, including 33 betting shops. Twelve of these are located within the town centre.

Notes to editors

1. 'The Racing Post' ran an interview with William Hill boss Ralph Topping this week. In it, Mr Topping said: "I'm against betting shop clustering on social grounds. I can see for myself some pretty stark examples of this and I can understand why people might raise localised objections. Betting shops have always been part of the community, but when the situation starts to alienate communities then the industry needs to listen and politicians need to act. We think a ‘cumulative impact' test would be lawful and could be sensibly applied by licensing authorities." Betfred Chief Executive Fred Done added: "Betfred are very keen to engage with local communities and we would be in favour of a joint gambling industry and LGA taskforce to examine how bookmakers, local authorities and communities interact."
2. The LGA will be launching proposals for full reform of the licensing system in its ‘Open for Business: Rewiring Licensing' report at the LGA's Annual Licensing Conference on Tuesday 4 February.
3. The 2005 Gambling Act has three licensing objectives:
   i) preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
   ii) ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
   iii) protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
4. You can read ‘The Deloitte Consumer Review: Reinventing the role of the high street' here.

Contact

Greg Burns, Senior Media Relations Officer
Local Government Association
Telephone: 020 7664 3184
Email: greg.burns@local.gov.uk
Media Office (for out-of-hours contact): 020 7664 3333
Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ

www.local.gov.uk

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