Agenda item

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services requesting consideration for the timing of Stage 2 of the Large Casino Licence process, attached.

The Committee considered a request regarding the timing of Stage 2 of the Large Casino Licence process.

Mr Roberts (Solicitor, Genting), Ms Tarn (Genting Casinos UK Ltd), Mr Macgregor (Solicitor, Global Gaming Ventures Ltd) and Mr Herd (Global Gaming Ventures Ltd) were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

Mr Nyak, on behalf of the developer, Royal Pier Waterfront, answered questions which were raised by the Committee.

The Committee considered the decision in confidential session in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 Section 100A(4).

The following decision was approved and read out at the meeting:

The Committee acknowledges the concerns regarding the meeting held on 30th September 2014. It wishes to make it clear that it comes to this decision fresh and uninfluenced by any representations or agreements made prior to today’s date by its officers, or views expressed by officers.  It also wishes to make clear that any procedural decisions in the future will be made by the Committee and the Committee alone.

The Committee rejects the proposal that the procedure be aborted.  The Committee has no reason to believe that the framework which it adopted for the granting of casino licences is unfair, and any challenge to it should have been brought when it was adopted. To abort the procedure now would, as GGV submitted, potentially allow yet further applicants into the competition, which would be unfair on existing applicants, and would result in a great deal of aborted costs.

The Committee has determined that Stage 2 shall commence on 1st January 2015. The closing date for submission of Stage 2 applications shall be 16th April 2015.

The rival positions were that Stage 2 bids should be submitted by 6th July or that they should be submitted by 6th April. The Committee notes that the provisional closing date for submission of Stage 2 bids was originally 6th January 2015, and this decision allows for over 3 months of further delay. The Committee has not heard adequate evidence to allow a delay of a yet further 3 months to July 2015. The Committee firmly intends to be fair to all parties, and considers that the date it has selected, which amounts to a very minor delay in excess of that accepted by GGV, is fair and represents a proportionate balance between the position of all parties.