The Northumberland County Council Licensing Committee was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 10 September 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss initial proposals for the refresh of the council's licensing policy under the Gambling Act 2005.

Gambling Act 2005: Initial Proposals for Refresh of Licensing Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider initial proposals for the refresh of Northumberland County Council's licensing policy under the Gambling Act 2005. This policy outlines the principles the council will apply when exercising its functions related to the regulation of gambling activity. The Gambling Act 2005 requires local licensing authorities to publish and periodically refresh such a policy.

The development of these initial proposals was led by the Cabinet, with the report presented to the Licensing Committee as part of the ongoing consultation process. The report detailed how the refreshed policy aims to move beyond a procedural statement to a more modern, evidence-led public protection framework. It was noted that the initial proposals place greater emphasis on gambling-related harm, deprivation, safeguarding, public health, and local communities, introducing strengthened expectations around local risk assessments and partnership working. The report also highlighted that the proposals seek to align with the development of a public health-focussed Gambling Strategy for the county.

The committee was recommended to note the report considered by Cabinet and to consider the initial proposals for the refreshed licensing policy. It was also recommended that the Chair of the Licensing Committee be delegated to present the committee's comments to the Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2026. The committee had previously agreed in June to hold an extraordinary meeting during the public consultation period to consider Cabinet's initial proposals, enabling its views to be included in subsequent considerations.

The report also provided background on the legislative framework of the Gambling Act 2005, outlining the three licensing objectives: preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, ensuring fair and open gambling, and protecting children and vulnerable persons. It detailed the dual regulatory responsibility between the Gambling Commission and local authorities, with local councils responsible for issuing premises licences and permits, and publishing licensing policies.

The document also included information on the local context of Northumberland, its demographics, and the profile of licensed gambling activity within the county. It highlighted the prevalence of gambling harm, noting that Northumberland had a higher participation rate in gambling activities compared to the national average, with specific areas identified as having higher levels of deprivation and a disproportionately high presence of gambling premises. The report emphasised a public health approach to addressing gambling harms, advocating for partnership working and prevention-focused responses.

The policy refresh was being undertaken in light of ongoing government regulatory reform, including the publication of the 2023 white paper, High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age. The development of the policy had also taken into account the council's corporate plan, the Northumberland Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and related place-shaping, safeguarding, and crime reduction plans. A public consultation on the draft policy was scheduled to take place.

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting held on 23 June 2026. The committee was also reminded of the procedures for the disclosure of members' interests.