Liberal Democrat councillor Lorna Spenceley was among those who successfully opposed a proposal that Harlow should apply for a permit to allow a small casino to be opened in the town.

The Government is currently inviting applications for eight large casinos, eight regional casinos and eight small casinos. Applications must be submitted by 31 March. Cllr Spenceley told the meeting:

"I have no overwhelming moral objection to gambling as such. However, I am opposing this proposal for three reasons. Firstly, Harlow has a large number of people - including many young people - with significant levels of debt, and local agencies spend a large amount of public money funding debt advice. I see no reason why we should wish to make this situation worse.

Secondly, the deadline for applications is not far away, and without sufficient time and sufficient information it would be unwise to proceed.

Thirdly, we all know that the Government is increasingly taking regulatory decisions, such as those on planning applications, away from local councils. Councillors have less and less control, even when it is clear that they are representing the wish of the community, and I would be worried that in agreeing the principle of having a casino, we would find decisions about where it was situated and who ran it taken out of our hands. That could be disastrous."

The proposal to apply for a casino permit was rejected by four votes to three.