Deadline for Carlisle City Council consultation

(Date of issue: Tuesday, 22 September 2009)

Time is running out for local residents and businesses to have their say on how gambling licences should be managed.

A consultation exercise involving other authorities such as the Police and existing licence holders has been underway since July and the deadline for responses is this Friday (25 September).

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.