Issue - meetings

The Panel noted the report of the Scrutiny Manager and considered the information provided by the invited guests which would be used as evidence in the review.

Summary of information provided:

1) Gambling-Related Harms – Prof. Sam Chamberlain, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southampton & Service Director and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, NHS Southern Gambling Service, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

• A presentation was delivered by Professor Sam Chamberlain, which outlined the impact of gambling-related harm, groups at increased risk and the work of the Southern Gambling Service.

Key points raised in the presentation included:

• There was limited data on the prevalence of gambling-related harms and this was a national problem.
• A sizeable proportion of people who gamble developed gambling-related harms. Many factors can influence this:
  • Individual: e.g. life events, personal history, cognitive characteristics, early gambling experiences, engagement in other risk behaviours
  • Families + Social networks: e.g. cultures in family or peer groups and/or poor social support
  • Community: e.g. access/availability of gambling and greater deprivation
  • Societal: e.g. regulatory and policy climates, ineffective regulation, advertising environments and gambling availability
    
    
• Gambling disorder was officially recognised as a mental health condition. Defined as: persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behaviour leading to impairment e.g. gambling increasing amounts, gambling when feeling distressed, jeopardising job/relationship/career, reliance on others to provide money. However, it was often overlooked and under-treated.
• Many who do not have gambling disorder still experienced gambling-related harms. For example:
  • Stress / depression and anxiety / suicide
  • Financial hardship / debts / asset losses / bankruptcy
  • Theft / imprisonment
  • Neglect of family / relationship breakdown / domestic violence
  • Job loss / job absenteeism / poor work performance
  • Gambling-related harms also effect community services such as loading pressure on charities and the public purse
  • Biggest rates of gambling disorder in EGMs (Electronic Gaming Machines), Casino games, bingo and poker.

• Vulnerable Groups
  • People from minority racial-ethnic backgrounds appeared to experience higher levels of gambling disorder, more disability due to gambling disorder, and earlier age of symptom onset
  • Gambling disorder linked to physical health conditions including obesity, insomnia, cardiovascular disorders.
  • Increased rates of gambling disorder in people who are homeless (16% compared to 1-2% in general population)
  • Other comorbidities common with gambling disorder e.g. nicotine dependence (56%)
  • Identifying gambling issues within the homeless community should be a priority.
  • Children were being introduced to gambling in video games which might be priming them to be more susceptible to gambling in the future. 

• NHS Southern Gambling Service
  • Opened 2022, small team based in Southampton, covered most of the South-East of England.
  • See people aged 17+ experiencing gambling-related harms/ gambling disorder. Accepted self-referrals and referrals from healthcare professionals.
  • Delivered various evidence-based psychological treatments such as brief psychological intervention, 1:1 and group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and medication. These could be delivered digitally.
  • Growing referral rates

• Prof. Chamberlain noted that public health interventions were often watered down due to industry influence and therefore were often ineffective. He also noted the importance of being aware of the influence of the gambling industry on related  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The Panel considered the report of  the Executive Director – Corporate Services detailing an introduction to the shape of the private rented sector I the City, the needs and concerns of renters, national legislation and policy and how the Council and its partners are seeking to manage and oversee the sector in the City.

The Panel received the following representations:

Conor O’Shea, Policy and Public Affairs Manager Generation Rent outlined the challenges experienced by private sector renters in the UK, the reasons these challenges exist and the opportunities to improve outcomes and summarised the key issues as:

·  20% of the UK population (13 million people) rent from a private landlord; 23% of families live in private rented homes; 41% of an average couple’s income is spent on private rental; 619,000 rental properties are estimated to fail safety standards.

·  Key challenge 1 – Availability of properties. There is increasing demand for rental properties as people return to cities after Covid. In many areas demand outstrips supply. Gazumping and bidding wars for rental properties have been witnessed.

·  Key challenge 2 – Affordability of rental properties. Rents at a peak cause unaffordability and the highest percentage of incomes spent on rent since records began. This is partly linked to lack of supply and the increasing number of long term rental properties becoming holiday lets.

·  Key challenge 3 – Standard of private rented sector accommodation. The energy efficiency of rented homes can be poor. One in four private renters are living in fuel poverty (1.19 million people), which is a higher rate than in social housing and owner-occupation.  Poorly insulated homes are costing tenants an average of £570 more for energy every year.  ECO Grants are not used by tenants for fear of eviction. The MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) uplift to Energy Efficiency Level C was recently cancelled. HMO licensing exists in Southampton, and licensing could be extended.

·  Renters (Reform) Bill 2023 – Key legislation going through Parliament. More local authority enforcement powers are proposed under amendments in the Bill.  There are proposals to introduce open-ended tenancies and abolish Section 21 (no fault) evictions although implementation of that proposal has been delayed until courts are reformed. All landlords must register on the property portal. Homes in the private rented sector must meet the Decent Homes Standard.  Rent increases limited to once a year.

·  Solutions beyond the Bill:

o  Increase the supply of housing.

o  Consider advocating rent controls.

o  Deposit passporting (deposit moves home with you).

o  Licensing scheme for holiday lets.

o  Energy efficiency measures.

o  Effective local authority enforcement. Good local authority practice is predominantly associated with employing sufficient enforcement officers to proactively enforce legislation.

Phil Tyler and David Carr, Directors of Southampton Tenants Union advised the Panel that:

·  Southampton Tenants Union has been operating for a year and was formed to fight for better housing and to reduce the exploitation of tenants.

·  The key issues identified in the private renters survey reflected the issues impacting on private renters in Southampton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4