New Plymouth District Councils in Order to Meet This Requirement

1 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Agenda MEETING AGENDA COUNCIL Tuesday 31 October 2017 at 9.30am COUNCIL CHAMBER LIARDET STREET NEW PLYMOUTH Chairperson: Mayor Neil Holdom Members: Cr Richard Jordan (Deputy) Cr Shaun Biesiek Cr Gordon Brown Cr Murray Chong Cr Harry Duynhoven Cr Richard Handley Cr Stacey Hitchcock Cr Colin Johnston Cr John McLeod Cr Alan Melody Cr Mike Merrick Cr Marie Pearce Cr Roy Weaver Cr John Williams 1 1 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Agenda Purpose of Local Government The reports contained in this agenda address the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 in relation to decision making. Unless otherwise stated, the recommended option outlined in each report meets the purpose of local government and: Will help meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses; Would not alter significantly the intended level of service provision for any significant activity undertaken by or on behalf of the Council, or transfer the ownership or control of a strategic asset to or from the Council. END 2 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Apologies 3 APOLOGIES Cr John Williams 3 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Table of Contents 5 REPORT 1 Hearing of Submissions - Gambling Venues and TAB Venues Policies 2 Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and Tab Venues Policy – Adoption Report END 4 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Hearing of Submissions Draft Hearing Schedule 6 Submissions to Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and TAB Venues Policy Subject to Change Please note: 1) The draft hearing schedule is subject to change, due to the length of presentations and clarification by elected members. 2) A specific time cannot be guaranteed. Parties may need to wait for the prior presenter to finish. 3) Please advise the Committee Adviser if you are no longer available. Call 06-759 2558 or email [email protected] 4) Please note that whilst estimated times are provided, all parties should ensure they are present for the whole proceedings in the event that speakers take less time than expected. 5) If you wish to bring supporting material please ensure you have at least 16 copies for distribution to the Councillors. Alternatively if you have a presentation and would like to use the large screen, please email this to [email protected] at least two days prior to the hearing. Tuesday 31 October 2017 Council Chambers, NPDC Civic Centre, New Plymouth AM/PM Subm No Name of Submitter Estimated Time Required 9.30am 25 Andrew Larsen (Personal) 10 mins 26 Russell Wilson (Taranaki Cricket Assoc) 5 mins 14 Fay Mulligan (Nga Mahanga) 15 mins 48 Dr Jonathan Jarman (TDHB) 15 mins Morning Tea Break (tentative) 10.45am 45 Andrew Brock (NPiS) 10 mins 46 Tanya Piejus (NZ Community Trust) 10 mins 30 Eru Loach (Problem Gambling Foundation of NZ) 15 mins 44 Chris Hince & David Stone (Hospitality NZ) 10 mins 5 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Gambling Venues and TAB Venues Policies CLASS 4 GAMBLING VENUES POLICY AND TAB VENUES POLICY – ADOPTION REPORT MATTER The matter for consideration by the Council is the submissions on the draft Class 4 7 Gambling Venues Policy and draft TAB Venues Policy, and consideration for adoption of the final policies. RECOMMENDATION FOR CONSIDERATION That having considered all matters raised in the report the Council: a) Note that the Council consulted on the draft Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and TAB Venues Policy, and received 29 submissions. b) Adopt the attached Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy with a district wide cap fixed at 369 gaming machines, and c) Adopt the attached TAB Venues Policy. COMPLIANCE Significance This matter is assessed as being of some importance. This report identifies and assesses the following reasonably practicable options for addressing the matter: 1. adopt the reviewed Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and Options TAB Venues Policy 2. adopt an amended Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and TAB Venues Policy The persons who are affected by or interested in this matter are class 4 gambling and TAB venues and licence holders, Affected persons gaming trusts, problem gambling service providers, recipients of grants, users of gaming machines in the district and the wider community. Recommendation This report recommends option one for addressing the matter. Long-Term Plan / Annual Plan No. Implications Significant Policy and Plan No. Inconsistencies 6 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Gambling Venues and TAB Venues Policies EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Council consulted on the draft Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and the TAB Venues Policy between 15 July and 15 August 2017. 29 submissions were received from various groups including, gambling trusts, community groups in receipt of grants, health care providers, and individual community members. The below table summarises the support for the policies consulted on: 7 Supported Did not support Blank / do not know proposed policy proposed policy Class 4 Gambling Venues policy Number of class 4 gaming machines 8 15 6 permitted Location of class 4 7 9 13 venues Relocation policy 8 10 11 for class 4 venues TAB venues Policy Location of TAB 10 9 10 venues BACKGROUND In line with the Gambling Act 2003 and the Racing Act 2003, the Council is required to have a policy on class 4 gambling venues and TAB venues. Additionally, these must be reviewed every three years. In reviewing the policies, Council must consider the social impacts of gambling within the district. A joint Regional Social Impact Assessment (SIA) was developed by Stratford, South Taranaki and New Plymouth District Councils in order to meet this requirement. The SIA demonstrated that as a whole, New Plymouth District was a low risk community in terms of gambling related harm. However, Waitara scored highly on three key risk factors, making it the most susceptible community to at risk gambling and gambling related harm. 7 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Gambling Venues and TAB Venues Policies Below is a summary of key changes to the policies and feedback received on these changes. CLASS 4 GAMBLING VENUES POLICY GAMING MACHINE NUMBERS. 7 The Council consulted on the below policy statement: The total number of gaming machines that may be operated in Class 4 Gambling Venues in the district, excluding Waitara, is 320. A sinking lid policy will apply in Waitara, until the total number of gaming machines that may be operated in Class 4 Gambling Venues in Waitara is reduced to 25. Once there are no more than 25 gaming machines permitted to operate in Waitara, the maximum number that may then be operated in Waitara will be capped at 25. Community feedback on gaming machine numbers SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED POLICY Eight submitters supported the proposed policy statements, and provided the comments below: - Apart from Waitara, the number of machines in the district seems acceptable. - Support for sinking lid in Waitara. - New Plymouth District should be a safe community. Therefore, protection from violence that may be caused by problem gambling is important. - The link between problem gambling and self-harm was highlighted – an Auckland Study demonstrated that 17% of patients admitted to Auckland hospital following a suicide attempt screened positively for problem gambling. - Gaming machines are the most addictive and harmful form of gambling in New Zealand. - Pokie machines are linked to suicide and suicide ideation, poverty and financial hardship, depression and whanau / relationship breakdowns. - Ideally, there would be no gaming machines in the district. - The 30 sleeping machines should be removed from New Plymouth District’s available machines (if they are not in use, then they are not required). Council notes that gaming machine licences cannot be taken away by the Council. Machine numbers only reduce through the natural attrition of machines in combination with a sinking lid policy. Attrition of machine licences may occur through the closure of venues, surrendered licences, cancellation of licences, or refusal to amend or renew a class 4 operator’s licence, as provided for under the Gambling Act 2003. 8 Council agenda - Hearing (31 October 2017) - Gambling Venues and TAB Venues Policies SUPPORT FOR AN ALTERNATIVE POLICY ON GAMING MACHINE NUMBERS 15 submitters supported an alternative policy on gaming machine numbers, as detailed below: Status quo: - Eight submitters supported retaining the status quo cap of 369 gaming 7 machines, see comments below: o The reduction in gaming machine numbers has little impact on the number of problem gamblers. o This cap is appropriate considering the other measures in place to minimise harm from gaming machines (e.g. primary activity of the venue, age limit for playing gaming machines, restrictions on note size accepted by machines, odds of winning must be displayed etc.). o Responsible venues are safer than alternative forms of gambling which may take the place of gaming machines if they were not available. o Retain the cap, but be open to review if additional major venues open. o Gaming machine numbers should be set for areas based on population. Council considered a number of risk factors when developing the proposed policies, including demographics. Additionally, Council notes that it is not practicable to review the machine number cap outside of a policy review cycle, as any policy changes must be carried out in accordance with the special consultative procedure. Four submitters supported more restrictions: - A sinking lid policy (for venues and machines) for the whole of New Plymouth District – a reduction in the number of gaming machines is likely to lead to a reduction in gambling harm and problem gambling. - Sinking lid is preferable. A cap may result in a greater number of licensed venues and machines locating in poorer communities.

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