The sub-committee received a
report of the Head of Community and Environmental
Services. The Licensing Officer
introduced the report and
referred members to Appendix Seven. She
explained that the venue held a Premises Licence to sell alcohol
for consumption on the premises and was therefore entitled to apply
for the provision of Category C and D gaming machines. The Licensing Officer referred members to Appendix
Two in the report and explained the various gaming machine
categories and entitlements as described therein.
She advised that the premises
was newly built and that Category C machines were only for the use
of people aged 18 or over - and that Category D machines may or may
not provide for cash prizes. She
informed members that the four Category C machines would be sited
in the bar area and would be easily supervised by bar staff; and
the reception area was also supervised.
The Licensing Officer explained
that the Watford Borough Council’s Gambling Act 2005
Statement of Principles (paragraph 19.11) required that
applications for five or more gaming machines would be determined
by a Licensing Sub-Committee. She
informed members that The Hollywood Bowl Original Gaming Company
had its own Gaming Machine Code of Practice and that this seemed to
be in line with the Gambling Commission’s Code of Practice,
its guidance and the Council’s Gambling Act 2005 Statement of
Principles. There appeared to be an
underage policy in place and the self-exclusion of
individuals. The company followed the
Gambling Commission’s requirements.
The Licensing Officer advised
that, in making a determination, members should take in to account
the Council’s Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and
the Gambling Act 2005 requirements. She
informed members that they could either grant the application in
full, grant the application but requiring a reduced number or
different category of gaming machines (or both) or refuse the
application. She concluded that Members
should give reasons for their decision.
The Chair invited questions of
the Licensing officer – there were none.
Address by the applicant
The Chair advised that members
had read the application and asked that a background to the company
be provided and information on how the present application compared
to the Watford Woodside site. The ideas
behind the four Category C and thirty two Category D gaming
machines would also be useful to the sub-committee.
The applicant’s legal
representative addressed the sub-committee. Mr Macgregor explained that it was appreciated
that the Council’s Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles
required a hearing in these circumstances and that the policy may
have been written, predominantly, in respect of public house type
premises. It may not have taken in to
account the original Watford application for the site in
Woodside.
He explained that The Original
Bowling Company Limited was the largest company of its kind in the
United Kingdom. It currently operated
fifty seven sites – with the present Watford application
being the fifty ninth. He advised that
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