Decision details

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community to determine an application received from Hawthorn Honey Limited, Touchstone Business Park, Coleshill Road, Maeston Green, Birmingham, in respect of an application for a Gaming Machine Permit for more than two gaming machines for a premise licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 known as the Lamplighter, 113 Market Street, Chorley.  The Designated Premises Supervisor and Business Development Manager attended the hearing.

The Council had received an application made under Schedule 13 of the Gambling Act 2005 for more than two gaming machines for the public house now known as the Lamplighter, 113 Market Street, Chorley. 

The premises benefits from a Premises licence issued under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 authorising the sale of alcohol, and a copy of the licence and plan of the premises was provided for information.  Where premises wished to have more than two machines, the premises holder needed to apply for a Gaming Machine permit and the authority would consider the application based upon the licensing objectives, Gambling Commission guidance, the Councils Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy and other such matters they felt relevant.

Officers attended the premises on 10 February 2016 to assess the suitability of the premises to accommodate additional gaming machines in line with the application received.  One of the proposed Gaming Machines (B) would be compromised in terms of being monitored when the machine closest to the bar (A) was being used.  The officer advised that the premises offered better opportunities to site the requested number of machines in different locations, which would enable better monitoring opportunities. 

Members noted that the premises had recently been refitted to enable the provision of light entertainment and dancing.  The two existing machines were placed opposite the bar. 

The applicant highlighted that the premises operated a challenge 25 policy and no children were allowed on the premises.  Additional notices and signage had been ordered as recommended in the report.

The applicant advised that following discussions with officers they now proposed that the machines be sited opposite the bar, in location E, (with the fourth machine next to E).  The machine currently at E would be relocated to A.  This would enable better monitoring opportunities. 

Members were reminded of the Gambling Act 2005 licensing objectives and the Gambling Commission’s published code of practice, providing the requirements that must be complied with by the Gaming Machine Permit Holder.  The applicant advised that staff would also be trained in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 licensing objectives. 

After careful consideration of all the relevant information, the Sub Committee RESOLVED to  grant  the  application  for two additional  Category C Gaming machines at The Lamplighter Lamplighter,  113  Market  Street, Chorley,  for the following reasons:

1.         The granting of the application is reasonably consistent with the licensing objectives.

2.         The machines will be sited opposite the bar, in location E, (with the fourth machine next to E).  The machine currently at E will be relocated to A.

3.         The applicant has taken into account the comments regarding signage and training and has taken steps to action these.