The Licensing and Regulatory Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday 8 July 2026 to discuss and provide comment on the draft revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029. The committee noted the arrangements for public consultation on the policy and the proposed timetable for its determination.

Draft Revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy 2026-2029

The committee considered the draft revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029, which aims to update the council's approach to gambling regulation. The revised policy introduces a stronger risk-based and public health-informed approach, with enhanced expectations for operators to mitigate local risks and protect vulnerable individuals. Key updates include the recognition of gambling-related harm as a public health issue, strengthened safeguarding and protection measures, an updated local area profile and risk assessment requirements, and alignment with national gambling reforms and legislation.

Nick Howard, Environmental Health Service Manager, introduced the report, explaining that the council is required by the Gambling Act 2005 to publish a policy every three years. He highlighted that the updated policy reflects significant national reforms, including the Gambling White Paper on high-stake reform for the digital age, the introduction of a statutory gambling levy, and a greater focus on local public health and harm prevention. The policy is intended to promote the three statutory licensing objectives: preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, ensuring it is conducted fairly and openly, and protecting children and vulnerable persons from harm or exploitation.

Councillor Julia Williams, Chair of the Pensions Committee and Labour Group Secretary, raised questions about the specific public health data for Barking and Dagenham and asked for a summary of the key changes in the updated local area profile, particularly regarding areas flagged as higher risk. Mr. Howard explained that the existing data informing the local area profile is detailed in Appendix D of the report and that a program of gambling harm prevention is being developed with partner agencies. He noted that while there are clusters of betting premises in Barking Town Centre and Dagenham Heathway, they are not considered large-scale casino-type establishments. The updated local area profile is shorter but more focused, relating to the prevalence of gambling premises, indices of deprivation, poverty, and crime.

The committee discussed how the public health aspect of gambling harm could be woven into licensing decisions, even though it is not a specific licensing objective. It was clarified that the link to public health would primarily be through the protection of vulnerable children and adults, considering factors like deprivation and financial implications. The potential for bringing forward an early refresh of the policy if significant changes occur was also mentioned.

The consultation period for the draft policy is set to run for six weeks, commencing on 13 July 2026 and closing on 24 August 2026. Following the consultation, responses will be collated, and a summary will be presented to the committee in late August or early September. The aim is for the policy to be formally adopted within the same month, allowing for Cabinet and Assembly considerations.

Councillor Ripon Sheikh questioned why the council was not stopping the increase in gambling spots, given the potential for harm. Mr. Howard explained that the Gambling Act 2005 establishes a permissive licensing regime, with a national aim to permit gambling where it is reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives. Local authorities are expected to permit rather than refuse applications, balancing this with the need to protect vulnerable groups.

The committee also discussed the effectiveness of the policy and how its success would be measured. It was noted that the policy sets the framework for decisions but does not inherently provide a monitoring framework. Measures of success would include the level of compliance, the effectiveness of compliance checks and enforcement activities, and how satisfied members are with applications received and their adherence to risk assessments and the local area profile.

Councillor Manjeet Nandra, Reform UK Group Whip, asked about the differences between the previous and current gambling policies and their local impact. Mr. Howard outlined several key changes, including a stronger public health approach, incorporation of national gambling harm reforms, expanded safeguarding focus, stronger expectations on local risk assessments, increased emphasis on partnership working, and a greater focus on age verification.

The discussion also touched upon the process for handling objections to applications, with clarification that there is no minimum threshold for objections to be considered. The effectiveness of staff training and the practical application of safeguarding measures were also explored, with assurances that officers would conduct testing questions and that the licensing team is expanding to support more targeted checks.

Regarding the scope of the policy, it was confirmed that it specifically relates to gambling and does not extend to online gambling, which is regulated by the Gambling Commission. The local area profile, which includes data on the estimated costs of gambling harm and the prevalence of betting premises, was highlighted as evidence of gambling harm being a local issue.

The committee was informed that the draft policy does not fundamentally alter the council's licensing approach but modernises the framework with a stronger focus on public health, safeguarding, and harm reduction. The recommendations were to consider the draft revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029, provide comments, and note the arrangements for public consultation and the timetable for determination. The committee expressed satisfaction with the proposals.