Decision details

RESOLVED that:

1.    the creation of a local lottery for Bracknell Forest is supported, with the core purpose of raising funds for local charities, voluntary organisations and good causes in the Borough, independently of the Council’s support for the third sector;

2.    that the initial set up costs of just under £4k are approved and funded from the current year’s remaining Corporate Contingency and that the on-going £698 annual license fees are assigned from on-going lottery income streams;

3.    a Working Group is established, chaired by the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny and involving the Executive Member for Transformation and finance and three other Members nominated by the Leader, to engage with Gatherwell, the external lottery management company behind many local authority supported lotteries, including Aylesbury Vale and Portsmouth and with local voluntary sector organisations on arrangements for their involvement in the lottery;

4.    a launch event is hosted at a cost of up to £2,000 (funded from the current year’s contingency) to promote the lottery and help secure additional first draw prizes and to market the lottery using existing Council communication channels including Forest Views to ensure on-going awareness and promotion to drive ticket sales and to promote the lottery amongst good causes;

5.    two council officers (the Borough Treasurer and Head of Performance and Partnerships) are nominated to be the license holders for the lottery should this be required;

6.    a further report is received prior to the lottery going live that will propose a policy and process for agreeing which types of voluntary groups can put themselves forward for lottery support and for the allocation of the good causes central pot, following consultation with voluntary groups, based on findings of the Working Group.

The Council acknowledges the positive impact that voluntary sector organisations can make in improving the lives of local people, but for financial reasons has had to gradually withdraw its financial support to such groups in recent years.  Establishing and promoting a local lottery that can secure funding for such organisations will allow the Council to continue to support them in a sustainable way.

1.    The Executive could decide not to support a local lottery. 

2.    An alternative delivery mechanism could be used for a local lottery. The council itself does not possess the necessary expertise nor software systems needed to operate a lottery.  Some councils have gone through a detailed and costly competitive process to seek an external lottery manager.  Given that the small scale of the council’s financial commitment to a lottery does not require a formal tender and the strong market dominance of Gatherwell in running local authority supported lotteries, it is felt that working with this organisation is the most efficient and cost effective approach.

None