Willingness to licence
- Council Resolutions
- Details of local consultations
- Response via Public Meetings
- Response via Council’s website, letters to local organisations and Town and Parish Councils
- Resolutions of support by the Local Strategic Partnership
- Relevant tourism or leisure strategies
Council resolutions
Following consultation with residents and businesses the East Lindsey District Council meeting of 1st March9, 2006, resolved:
- The Council would be prepared to issue a Casino Licence.
- That an application to the Casino Advisory Panel to site a small casino in East Lindsey be approved.
- That any proposed casino to be located within the Coastal Action Zone – Mablethorpe to Skegness strip.
The recommendations were approved unanimously, with all five council political groups supporting the recommendations10.
Details of local consultations
In order to encourage widespread comment and debate on the issue of licensing a casino the Council embarked on an extensive consultation programme with stakeholders via the Council’s website, public meetings, letters to local organisations and Town and Parish Councils and by direct contact with the Council’s Consultation Team. The analysis of the responses is in two parts11.
“Three of Skegness’ Wards are high on the indices of Wards of Deprivation and need investment. Skegness Town Council would be quite capable of overseeing and planning for potential problems arising from the construction and running of a casino.”
Skegness Town Council
“It would make an excellent attraction for the District of East Lindsey and help bring much needed revenue to East Lindsey’s economy.”
East Lindsey District Council
Response via public meetings
Meetings were held in Skegness and Horncastle to listen to the views of East Lindsey residents and business representatives on the potential for casino development within the district and the issue was raised at Mablethorpe Area Committee, Skegness Town Council and Horncastle Town Council. All who attended were given the opportunity to comment. There was some limited concern over the possible negative social impact of any large scale casino development but this view was greatly outweighed by those who felt that a casino would offer regeneration opportunities and the potential for additional non-gambling leisure activities.
The overwhelming view was supportive and that it should be located on the coast where the need for regeneration was most strongly felt.
Response via Council’s website, letters to local organisations and Town and Parish Councils
Written respondents to the Council’s Consultation Exercise supported the casino proposal. All comments from coastal residents and organisations were supportive. Inland respondents – either public or Parish Councils were more likely to highlight the potential negative consequences of casinos, and where they supported a casino, suggested that it be located on the Coast. Skegness Town Council established a specific Working Group to review the issue and resolved to support a casino proposal.
Responses received by local statutory agencies supported the proposal. These included Lincolnshire Constabulary and East Lindsey PCT. Both identified the need for economic regeneration on the coastal strip as a key factor in supporting the development. Skegness Chamber of Commerce has also written to the Council to support a casino in Skegness12.
“This is an excellent way to regenerate towns and communities, bringing with it improvements to the infrastructure which would never occur otherwise Skegness is the best possible location as it has an established range of accommodation already in place.”
A member of Skegness Town Council
“A casino may encourage facilities the development of conference facilities that would enhance the resort and attract visitors out of season, making the need for seasonal unemployment unnecessary.”
A Skegness business person
Resolutions of support by the Local Strategic Partnership
The LSP Steering Group on the 9th February, 2006 approved the submission of a case to the Casino Advisory Panel for a coastal casino in East Lindsey13.
Relevant tourism or leisure strategies
The Economic Development and Leisure strategies of the Council, Lincolnshire Tourism, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Enterprise demonstrate partners’ commitment to economic regeneration and tourism14.
East Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council see the development of a casino as a contributor to both these objectives. The Casino led development will support a new four-star hotel that will help establish the conference market. At present the four-star standard hotel provides insufficient bedrooms to cater for medium sized conferences.
9. Council Report 1 MArch 2006, Potential for Casino Regeneration
10. Minutes of Council Meeting 1 March 2006
11. Overview committee Report 22 February 2006, Consultation Exercise on a Casino Proposal for East Lindsey
12. Letter of support, Skegness Town Council
13. Local Strategic Partnerships Report of 9 February 2006 – Potential for Casino Regeneration and Minutes of Local Strategic Partnerships Meeting, 9 February 2006
14. Enterprise East Lindsey – Economic Development Strategy 2006 - 2020, Lincolnshire Economic Strategy and Investing in Success – A Tourism Strategy for Lincolnshire 2005 - 2010
