Purpose

To agree on the future of the pre-existing
community lottery that is established in the former Harrogate
District and now run by North Yorkshire Council (NYC). The contract
with the existing External Lottery Manager is due to expire May
2026.

Decision

Cease the operation of the local authority
operated The Local Lotto by the end of May 2026 and support any
transition to a community partner.

Reasons for the decision

The current contract with the External Lottery
Manager (ELM) (Gatherwell Ltd) ends in May 2026. A full procurement
exercise would be required to continue, but this is not recommended
due to cost, complexity and diminishing returns to the council. It
is felt that the community lottery would now thrive if it were
transferred to a community provider.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option is to cease The Local
Lotto for the Harrogate district and not provide any alternative
option. This has been rejected as North Yorkshire Council
recognises the contribution the VCSE makes across the area and
without regular income and support communities will not thrive or
be sustainable.