60pc rise fears for betting licences

Under proposals being considered by the local authority, the cost of varying or transferring bingo and betting shop licences would rise to 1,000, a large increase from the 600 currently being charged.

East Riding Council currently receives more than 54,000 a year for issuing, varying, transferring and providing duplicate licences to more than 260 organisations, from Beverley Racecourse to small lottery societies.

All these fees are set to rise under proposals that will be considered by the council's licensing committee on Monday, and the changes would generate a further 11,000 for the council.

The cost of licence applications for bingo clubs and betting shops would rise to 1,000 (up from 800), to 1,200 for the racecourse (from 850), to 950 for adult gaming centres (from 700), and to 850 for family entertainment centres (from 700).

Annual fees would also rise, ranging from a 50 increase for betting premises (up to 600), to a 250 rise for adult gaming centres, up to 800.

Despite the rises, all but one of the new charges would still be below the maximums set by Government.

The proposed fees would also remain largely below the charges currently being made by councils in Hull, Scarborough, North Lincolnshire, Selby and York.

Selby Council charges 3,500 for a bingo licence application, Scarborough charges 3,415, York charges 2,800, North Lincolnshire charges 2,712, while in Hull the costs is 1,750.

Councils are required to review the fees each year and they should represent fairness and value for money for the gaming and betting industry.

Income from the fees also has to cover enforcement costs and those of investigating illegal activity.