Senior members of a North London council will be providing evidence of the risks associated with gambling in the House of Commons next week. The councillors are supporting calls for the government to undertake ‘urgent reforms’ of the industry, as part of a plan to tackle gambling addiction.
Brent Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Milli Patel, and the Chair of the Planning Committee, Cllr Matt Kelcher, will be giving evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Harms on Tuesday (10 December) regarding its impact on local authorities. Residents have raised concerns regarding the up-tick of gambling premises in Brent, with the density of such sites in Harlesden leading some to suggest the area is turning into the Las Vegas of Britain.
Chaired by Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, the session, which will also set out the public health argument for tackling gambling addiction on a national scale, will take place in the House of Commons at 10am. Brent politicians will set out the restraints local authorities face on issues such as planning ‘when it comes to protecting vulnerable residents and keeping high streets healthy and safe’.
Brent Council passed a unanimous motion in September, supported by the three parties represented in the borough, on gambling harms in the community. Cllr Patel and Cllr Kelcher have been invited to give evidence to the APPG after writing to the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, in October urging the Government to consider a number of recommended reforms.
Cllr Patel said: “We are looking forward to speaking to the APPG on Gambling Related Harms later this month, having been given the chance to set out the barriers facing local councils across the country. With a Labour government at the helm, it’s time to strengthen the arm of local government and reform the desperately outdated Gambling Act, putting power back in the hands of the community and keeping our high streets healthy and safe.”
She added: “We welcome the recent announcement that gambling operators will soon be obliged to pay a statutory levy on profits, feeding into research, education and treatment of gambling-related harms. This is a bold first step from a government serious about tackling the issues of harmful gambling.”
The initial letter was prompted by a growing issue caused by the increase in the clustering of gambling premises across Brent, particularly in Harlesden where there are already six within a 600-metre stretch – four of which are bookies – two Ladbrokes, one William Hill and one Paddy Power – as well as two adult gaming centres already run by Silvertime Amusements Ltd.
It detailed six reforms that the council is asking the government to support, including granting greater power to local authorities to reject applications that ‘threaten the community’s welfare and safety’; enable councils to consider local household debt levels when deciding on applications; and a ban on gambling advertising.
Cllr Kelcher said: “The harmful consequences of gambling are well-documented, and have been linked to a range of social and public health issues, including suicidality, depression, anxiety, and financial ruin. The communities we serve are experiencing first-hand the detrimental effects of unchecked gambling proliferation, and we must be empowered to act decisively to protect them.”
He added: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s aspiration that communities should be empowered to take back control over their own destinies, and believe this is a policy area where his aspiration can be made a reality.”
