Brent politicians visited Downing Street last week as the government confirmed plans to introduce a new rule that will give local councils more power to refuse new gambling licences. Brent Council has been campaigning for the implementation of a six point plan to “stop the spread” of gambling sites on high streets.
Councillors and MPs, alongside human rights activist Bianca Jagger – the former wife of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, travelled to No.10 on Tuesday (21 April) as part of their campaign against the proliferation of adult gaming centres (AGCs) in the borough.
Local authorities don’t currently have the power to block new premises from opening under the ‘Aim to Permit’ rule but the government has said it will introduce cumulative impact assessments (CIAs) for gambling, enabling them to refuse new licences in already saturated areas.
Councillors representing Willesden Green, Harlesden, and Kensal Green were joined by Dawn Butler MP, Joe Powell MP, and Bianca Jagger attended Downing Street following the parliamentary debate on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The bill forms part of the government’s plan to “rebuild and reform local government, as the foundation for devolution, and give communities stronger tools to shape their local areas”.
Currently, Brent is one of London’s boroughs with the highest number of gambling premises, with an estimated economic harm costing the local authority around £14.3m a year, according to council figures.
Research carried out last year by independent think tank The Social Market Foundation – commissioned by Brent – found that AGCs are concentrated in deprived areas and are often linked to crime, antisocial behaviour, and harm to vulnerable people. Brent developed a six point plan of changes the government could introduce to give councils “the powers to take back control” of high streets.
Brent Council’s Six Point Plan for Change
- Reform the Aim to Permit policy and allow local authorities to reject applications that threaten the community’s welfare and safety
- Include bingo halls and adult gaming centres in the same planning category as bookmakers so caps cannot be by-passed by splitting premises
- Allow councils to consider local household debt levels when evaluating planning applications for high street casinos
- Create a statutory levy on gambling operators for research, education, and treatment through an independent public body
- Prohibit gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to prevent exposure
- Review the spin speed and excess staking levels on gambling machines
The government has already introduced a new levy on gambling companies and limited the use of some of the more addictive gambling machines on the market. Brent politicians described the latest measure as “a huge step forward” but said they will “keep fighting” until all six steps have been implemented.
Deputy Leader of Brent Council and Labour Councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green, Cllr Mili Patel, said: “We are on the side of local residents who are fed up of gambling companies targeting our borough, and we’re fighting back. It’s great to finally have a government who are listening to communities and councils and implementing the change we need to see.
“But we’re just getting started! We will keep campaigning until all six points in our plan for change have been delivered and we have all the powers we need to take back control of our high streets.”
