CASINO NO POLL?

10.37.56am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jul 2007

Torbay Council Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Steve Darling has requested the Council Chairman to accept a late question from him on the casino issue for the Full Council meeting on Thursday.

The deadline for questions for Council meetings is 10 working days before the meeting, but late questions can be accepted at the Chairman's discretion.

The question from Cllr Darling will be:

"You stated at the Cabinet meeting on the 17th July that the Government has contacted Local Authorities to confirm if they are still interested in having a new casino.

In the statement that the Cabinet minister James Purnell made to accompany his letter to local authorities, the Minister states that the Government "has placed a great emphasis on the importance of local consultation and local accountability."

Does the Mayor intend to bring this matter before Full Council before replying to the Minister's letter? Also, in light of the Minister's emphasis on consultation, when does the Mayor plan to hold a referendum to gauge the public's support for a second casino in Torbay?"

Cllr Darling said: "In his statement accompanying his letter to local authorities, the Minister asked those authorities who had expressed interest in a casino previously to restate their commitment. This request is obviously due to the fact that the casino issue is controversial. I am interested to find out how the Mayor intends to consult local opinion on a second casino for Torbay."