Brent Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a bold new package of powers under its “Pride in Place” programme, billed as the largest transfer of power from Whitehall to communities in history.
The reforms promise new rights for residents to take over boarded up shops, save and repurpose valued local pubs and libraries, and crucially, to block the spread of unwanted betting shops and vape stores in areas already saturated with such businesses. Ministers have also pledged record investment in over 330 communities across the country to tackle decline and inequality, with Brent set to receive £1.5m once allocations are confirmed.
Among the most significant announcements is the introduction of Cumulative Impact Assessments in gambling licensing, which when legislated for, will give councils the ability to take into account the overall concentration of betting shops when deciding new applications. For the first time, local authorities will be able to reflect the real lived experience of residents, recognising the cumulative harm caused when high streets become saturated with gambling outlets.
Earlier this year, Brent co-ordinated a coalition of 43 councils and mayors, including Andy Burnham, calling for urgent reform of the Gambling Act 2005. That open letter, representing nearly 12 million residents, set out a six-point plan to tackle the harms of high street gambling, including an end to the statutory “Aim to Permit” duty which has left councils effectively powerless to reject licensing applications.
