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Kawerau Gambling Policy Overdue For Update
Kawerau District Council’s gambling venues policies are almost four years out of date.
A report to the council’s audit and risk committee on Monday showed that of 30 policies it holds, nine are out of date, however, seven of these are not required by legislation.
The council is required by law to have a Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy and a Board Venues Policy and to review both every three years. The Kawerau council’s policies were due for renewal in December 2020.
A Class 4 Gambling Venues Policy is used by the council to guide it on decisions around numbers and locations of gambling venues and the number of gambling machines to be allowed in the district.
The current policy caps the number of machines at a maximum of 54, with a sinking lid policy of reducing that number if an organisation reduces its number of machines or ceases to hold an operating licence. No relocation of class 4 gambling venues is allowed.
Board venues are premises where the main activity is racing or sports betting, such as a TAB. The council’s current policy allows for one such venue in the central business district.
The council must consult with the community and create a social impact statement as part of the renewal process.
The other policies overdue for renewal covered management of street trees, library membership, graffiti and vandalism, methamphetamine building contamination, Easter trading, procurement and cemetery memorials, ornamentation and multiple internments.
The report identified two other policies which were due for renewal by the end of June. These are the Dangerous, Insanitary and Affected Buildings Policy, a review of which has been completed and is expected be put before council on Wednesday, and a Backflow Prevention Policy, which is potentially no longer necessary due to changes in legislation.
The council’s Community Awards Policy is also due for renewal in November, bringing the number of policies that are due for renewal by the end of the year to 12.
The report identified that the council had previously employed a policy analyst-strategic planner who was responsible for reviewing the existing policies. To reduce costs the position was not reinstated, and the responsibility fell to managers in each area of council the different policies guided.
The report recommended having one comprehensive system showing all policies, a history of reviews, including previous versions to prevent policies becoming out of date.
Regulatory and planning group manager Michaela Glaspey said it would be worth reviewing the list of policies as there were probably some that were no longer needed.
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