Pending Gambling Applications

The Gambling Act 2005 states that representations can be made in opposition to, or in support of, an application and can be made by any individual, body or business.

There are several important things you should consider when making a representation.

Your representation

Your representation should be evidence-based and will only be taken into account if it is considered to be relevant and refers to the likely effect of the grant of the application on the promotion of one or more of the four licensing objectives:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime and disorder or being used to support crime
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling 
• The absence of any reference to public nuisance within these objectives should be noted

Information for making a representation

• Representations must be made in writing – please see ‘Contact Us’ section below for our postal and email address
• It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application
• Representations will be rejected if it is considered frivolous, vexatious or repetitive 
• Representations should include your full name and address 
• Copies of all representations will be supplied in full (including your personal details) to the applicant (and to the licence holder with regards a review) to allow meditation and will also comprise part of the public papers for the Licensing Panel hearing. Please see link to our licensing privacy notice.
• Representations must be received within 28 calendar days of the date the application is made – please see our ‘Pending Gambling application page.

Petitions

The Licensing Authority will accept petitions, but there are some important factors to consider before organising a petition:

• We ask that the organiser of the petition identifies them self as a central point of  contact. We may need to make contact in order to verify certain matters and if we are unable to do this it could invalidate the petition.
• Each page of the petition should contain information as to the purpose of the petition so that all persons know what they are signing.
• Full names and addresses must be supplied of every individual signing the petition.
• All signatories must be made aware where representations are made and not withdrawn; that a copy of the petition with all signatories names and addresses will be supplied to the applicant and a copy will be contained within the committee papers, their personal details will not be published.

We will not write to each signatory separately, but instead assume that the organiser will advise each signatory of the hearing date and the final outcome of the application. It is expected that the organiser will represent the signatories at the hearing and to speak for them. When making a decision, the Licensing Authority will give appropriate weight to a petition. Those wishing to make representations should appreciate that the quality of the representations we received is an important consideration when making a decision.

Evidence

You can support your objection by supplying the following:

• a diary/record of events or incidents
• photos/video evidence
• sound recordings
• a record of complaints made to authorities
• supporting statements from fellow neighbours/witnesses

Your objection must be made in writing to:

Contact us by email: licensing@hounslow.gov.uk