Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair and Vice Chair for the Municipal Year 2024-2025.

The Panel noted that Councillor Cooper had been appointed as Chair by Council on 18 September 2024

RESOLVED that Councillor Webb be elected as Vice-Chair for the Municipal Year 2024/2025.

Report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel discuss, amend and approve a final version of the attached outline inquiry project plan, allowing for sufficient flexibility and the availability of suitable witnesses.

The Panel considered the report of the Scrutiny Manager which recommended that the Panel noted the Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 1 and that the Panel discuss, amend and approve a final version of attached outline inquiry project plan, allowing for sufficient flexibility and the availability of suitable witnesses.

Southampton City Council’s Scrutiny Manager, Mark Pirnie, and Chloe Webb, Inquiry Lead Officer were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Panel.

RESOLVED that:

i)  the Panel noted the Terms of Reference set out in Appendix 1

ii)  the Panel approved the outline inquiry project plan as presented in the report of the Scrutiny Manager

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.