Key Points
- Brent councillors and MPs visited Downing Street on Tuesday, April 21, alongside human rights activist Bianca Jagger, as part of a campaign against the spread of adult gaming centres and other gambling venues in the borough.
- The visit came after the government said it plans to introduce cumulative impact assessments for gambling, which would give councils more scope to refuse new licences in areas already saturated with gambling premises.
- Brent Council has been campaigning for a six-point plan to tackle gambling-related harm and “stop the spread” of gambling sites on high streets.
- Council figures cited in reporting say gambling-related harm costs Brent about £14.3m a year, with 6.2 per cent of residents classified as problem gamblers.
- Brent is described as one of London’s boroughs with the highest number of gambling premises, with 81 licensed venues reported in the area.
Brent (North London News) April 23, 2026, after the government confirmed plans that could give local councils greater power to block new gambling licences in already saturated areas. The move comes as Brent Council continues its campaign for a six-point plan aimed at tackling gambling harm and limiting the spread of adult gaming centres and betting shops on the borough’s high streets.
What happened at No 10?
As reported by MyLondon, Brent councillors representing Willesden Green, Harlesden and Kensal Green travelled to No 10 with MPs Dawn Butler and Joe Powell, and with Bianca Jagger, following the parliamentary debate on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
The bill is part of the government’s wider plan to rebuild and reform local government and give communities stronger tools to shape their areas. The delegation’s visit was part of a wider push to persuade ministers to change the rules that currently make it hard for councils to refuse gambling premises applications.
Why is Brent campaigning?
Brent Council has argued that the current licensing system leaves local authorities with limited ability to block new gambling venues because of the “Aim to Permit” rule.
In reporting cited on the issue, Brent has been described as having one of the highest concentrations of gambling premises in London, with 81 licensed venues and clusters in places such as Harlesden and Wembley. The council’s campaign is built around the claim that the borough is already carrying a heavy social and economic burden linked to gambling harm.
What powers could change?
The government has said it will introduce cumulative impact assessments for gambling, which would allow councils to refuse new licences in areas where there is already a high concentration of gambling premises. Local government bodies have also argued for broader reform of gambling licensing and planning powers, including giving councils more say over applications and enforcement.
Brent’s leader, Muhammed Butt, has previously said the current law is “no longer fit for purpose” and that councils need stronger powers to protect communities from the effects of gambling venues.
What do council figures show?
Council reporting has pointed to estimated gambling-related harm costing Brent around £14.3m a year. The same figures have also been used to show that 6.2 per cent of residents are classified as problem gamblers, more than double the national average of 2.9 per cent.
Brent has also been ranked among the local authorities with the highest number of betting shops per capita, according to the report.
Which voices were involved?
Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent East, has been a prominent critic of the number of gambling premises in the borough and has called for reform of the Gambling Act so councils can refuse new licensing applications.
The reporting also says Bianca Jagger joined the delegation as a human rights activist in support of the campaign. Brent Council’s lobbying has been framed as a community protection effort rather than an attempt to ban gambling outright.
How does the wider law matter?
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is intended to shift more power away from central government and into the hands of local leaders and communities. Guidance on the bill says it covers devolution, local government reform and community empowerment, including new powers for strategic authorities and measures to strengthen local decision-making.
For Brent, the wider significance is that gambling control is being tied to a broader debate about how much freedom councils should have to shape high streets and local environments.
Background of this development
Brent’s campaign did not begin with this week’s visit to Downing Street. The council has been raising alarm for some time about the density of gambling venues in the borough and the effect on residents, businesses and high streets. Earlier reporting said Brent had already led and supported wider calls for reform of the Gambling Act 2005, including a six-point plan aimed at changing planning and licensing rules.
The current push reflects a longer-running dispute between councils that want tighter local control and a licensing system that has traditionally favoured permitting new premises unless there is a strong legal reason to refuse them.
Prediction
If the government follows through on stronger council powers, Brent and similar boroughs are likely to use them to slow or block further gambling shop openings in the most affected streets.
For residents, that could mean fewer new venues in already crowded areas and more room for councils to respond to local objections. For the gambling sector, it could mean a tougher planning and licensing environment in London boroughs that already say they are overexposed to betting shops and adult gaming centres.
