Carlisle City Council consults

(Date of issue: Tuesday, 7 July 2009)

Carlisle City Council is asking local residents and businesses their opinion on how gambling licences should be managed. New laws brought in January 2007 transferred the licensing of gambling premises to local authorities.

A consultation exercise involving other authorities such as the Police and existing licence holders is now underway and will continue for a 12-week period. Copies of the City Council’s draft Gambling Policy are available on the Carlisle City Council website www.carlisle.gov.uk and at the Civic Centre and local libraries.

The Gambling Act 2005 introduced sweeping changes in the licensing of gambling and transferred authority from the Magistrates Courts’ to local authorities.. The changes meant that:

• The Gambling Commission license operating and personal licences; and
• Local Authorities license the premises.

Carlisle City Council first published its Statement of Gambling Policy in 2007, this lasted for a period of three years and is now up for review.

Operators need to refer to the Council’s Statement of Gambling Policy before submitting an application for a Premises licence. The six district authorities in Cumbria formed a joint working group in an effort to provide a common and consistent policy for the county. This has the advantage in that many organisations are county based and it would be more efficient to work to one common policy.

Copies of the draft policy are available from Carlisle City Council’s website - www.carlisle.gov.uk, by e-mailing licensing@carlisle.gov.uk  or by telephoning 01228 817523.

Any responses regarding the draft Licensing Policy should be submitted in writing to Jim Messenger, Licensing Manager, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle CA3 8QG or by email to licensing@carlisle.gov.uk  by not later than Friday, 25 September 2009.