By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
The timetable has been confirmed for an inquiry to assess and explore the issue of gambling harms in Southampton.
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The purpose of the exercise, which includes six public meetings, is to identify opportunities to reduce gambling-related harms in the city.
Scrutiny manager Mark Pirnie told a recent overview and scrutiny management committee meeting it was a complex issue, which had a number of factors, but the focus would be on what can be done in Southampton.
The committee heard that people with lived experience had already got in contact expressing a willingness to engage with the inquiry.
Mr Pirnie said: “We are committed to making sure that hopefully at every meeting those people with lived experience of gambling harms have their voices heard where possible. We can provide evidence, we can provide professors and academics but nothing is more powerful than the voice of someone who has experienced it.
“We will endeavour to ensure that voice is heard throughout.”
This could involve sections of the inquiry meetings being held confidentially or for focus groups to take place.
Meetings are scheduled for November 14, December 19, January 16, February 13 and March 6, before the final meeting on May 8 where a report on the inquiries conclusions will be considered.
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