There were no changes to the Committee membership.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2024 (Appendix ‘A).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 November 2024 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registrable and non-registrable interests in items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee was asked to approve the revised Statement of Gambling Policy for the period 2025 – 2028, following an 8 week consultation period.

Members were advised that only one response to the consultation had been received.  Nevertheless, it was very useful feedback, which had prompted Officers to recommend two amendments to the revised statement, which the Committee was content to include.  The feedback had been received from GamCare, a national provider of information, support, and advice for anyone affected by gambling harms.  GamCare also operated the National Gambling Helpline.  The feedback was set out in full in the report and due regard was given thereto by the Committee.

The Committee agreed that GamCare’s suggestion to approach gambling as a public health issue was reasonable and proportionate and the commitment to work with partner agencies to improve health inequalities in the borough due to harmful gambling was welcomed.

In addition, it was agreed that within the Local Area Profile, useful data provided by GambleAware which was specific to Runnymede should be added to the infographics section of the Statement of Gambling Policy.

Members agreed the Statement of Gambling Policy was robust and set out a clear framework for regulation.

Resolved that –

the revised Statement of Gambling Policy be approved, to be recommended for adoption by full Council on 6 February 2025

The Committee was asked to approve the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for the period 2025 – 2030, following a 10 week consultation exercise.

Officers reported that only one response had been received; this was from Surrey Police’s Borough Commander and related to stealth or ‘ghost plates’ which had become an issue, generally, not specifically to the taxi trade.  Members were advised that stealth plates were 4d plates which had a retroreflective coating which rendered the plates fully or partially unreadable by infrared ANPR cameras.  This was clearly illegal under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001.  The Committee was fully supportive of the proposed addition to the conditions regarding registration plates as set out in the report.

Officers agreed that in light of the expense of purchasing a special infrared camera to detect ghost plates, it would be sensible to consider a joint enforcement operation with regard to ‘ghost plates’ with a neighbouring authority who had purchased the appropriate technical equipment.

The Committee also approved an additional clause in the policy regarding ‘suitability guidance’ which had been published in October 2024 by the Institute of Licensing, to assist Licensing Authorities in their assessment of whether a driver or operator was ‘fit and proper’.  It was acknowledged that this was an interim step to have regard to the guidance, pending a full review of the ‘fit and proper’ section of the policy at a later date, as and when the guidance became statutory.

Officers were thanked for their comprehensive review of the policy and the Committee was pleased to approve it accordingly.

Resolved that –

the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be approved

There were no exempt or confidential items on the agenda.