Issue - meetings

The Executive Committee is asked to note that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be pre-scrutinising this report at a meeting on Monday 4th February.  Due to the short time available between the Overview and Scrutiny and Executive Committee meetings any recommendations arising from the pre-scrutiny of this report will be tabled at the Executive Committee meeting on 5^th February.

The Voluntary Community Sector Grants Co-ordinator presented a report in respect of Redditch Borough Council’s Community Lottery.  The programme had been agreed in September 2018 but before the lottery was launched the Council had to approve a number of policies in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Gambling Commission.  The policies had been circulated for the consideration of relevant staff in advance of the Committee meeting to ensure that they did not conflict with other Council policies.  Delegated powers had also been requested to enable officers to update the policies quickly in response to any changing requirements set by the Gambling Commission.

Following the presentation of the report Members discussed a number of points in detail:

·                The basis for the projected figures that would be generated by the lottery, which were detailed in the report.

·                The potential impact that the introduction of a community lottery would have on participation in lotteries for local charities, such as that held by the Primrose Hospice.

·                The impact that the introduction of the lottery might have on the Council’s grants programme.

·                The lottery schemes that had been introduced by other local authorities in the country which had been relatively successful.

·                The advice that Aylesbury Vale District Council had provided to the Council prior to the decision to introduce a lottery.

During consideration of this item Members referred to the recommendations that had been made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the community lottery.  Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had raised a number of concerns with respect to the lottery scheme and these had been detailed in a written summary of the discussions, which was tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED that

the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a meeting on 4^th February in respect of the community lottery be noted; and

RECOMMENDED that

1)        the Business Plan and suite of Policies be approved, and implemented for the Redditch Community Lottery Scheme; and

2)        the Head of Community Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be granted delegated authority to adapt the policies as and when required to ensure ongoing compliance with the rules and regulations set by the Gambling Commission as per our lottery licence.

The Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Co-ordinator provided Members with an overview of the Community Lottery Scheme for Redditch Borough Council.  Members were reminded that the Executive Committee and Council had already agreed in September to set up a Council lottery. 

The business plan outlined raising money for local community and voluntary sector groups from a weekly draw, with the potential for players to win a £25,000 jackpot.  With regards to the ongoing costs of the annual license fee and annual lotteries, Council membership would be met through the 10% share of ticket sales.

Members discussed the following matters in relation to the implementation of this scheme:

·                The potential that people from deprived backgrounds would be encouraged to take part in gambling.

·                The extent to which the scheme would be sustainable and the basis for the projected figures in the report.

·                The safeguarding policy proposed for the scheme and whether the policy would be robust enough to protect those who were under age and vulnerable people.

·                The potential impact of the Council’s lottery on income derived from organisational lotteries by local charities.

·                The extent to which there was demand for a lottery in Redditch.  Members expressed concerns that no market testing had been undertaken in the Borough before a decision had been taken to launch a Council lottery.

·                The arrangements for the Council to hold a license for the lottery and the role of the external company that would be managing the scheme.

·                The potential impact that a number of jackpot winners would have on the insurance premiums for the external management company and the impact that this could have in the long-term on the organisation’s willingness to support the lottery.  Members were advised that it was likely the lottery would be managed by an experienced external company.

·                The possibility that residents would take part in the Council lottery in order to provide financial support to good causes.  Members were advised that participants could nominate charities that would receive funding following their purchase of a lottery ticket.

·                The examples of Council lotteries that had been successfully launched in other parts of the country.

RECOMMENDED that

1)    the Business Plan and suite of Policies found in
Appendix 1 - 6 of the report be approved, and implemented
for the Redditch Community Lottery Scheme;

2)    the Head of Community Services in consultation with the
relevant Portfolio Holder be granted delegated authority to
adapt the policies as and when required to ensure ongoing
compliance with the rules and regulations set by the
Gambling Commission as per our lottery licence;

3)    the Executive Committee note the concerns raised in the preamble above by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

RESOLVED that

4)    an update be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee about the numbers participating in the council lottery scheme six months after the scheme has been launched.