Sex Shops
The City Council has a policy on licensing sex shops. The Licensing Team issues licences in accordance with the policy and carries out inspections to ensure that standards are maintained.
Sexual Entertainment Venues
The Policing and Crime Act 2009 has made it possible for local authorities to control other sex establishments, such as lap dancing venues. In summer 2010 we carried out consultation on whether to adopt these new powers and, if so, what our policy should be. At a meeting on 25 November 2010 the full Council resolved to adopt these powers.
On 7 March 2011 the Cabinet approved the council's policy on licensing sexual entertainment venues. However, they asked for further consultation about the limit on the number of premises that may be licensed in the city centre and the Braunstone Gate area. This consultation was carried out in April / May 2011 and the findings were reported to the Cabinet in July 2011. On 25 July 2011 the Cabinet announced it's decision to limit the number of premises that may be licensed in the city centre and the Braunstone Gate area to five.
The new policy came into effect on 1 April 2011. There will be a transitional period of 12 months, during which time any existing operators will be able to continue as before. The transitional period will give time for existing and new operators to apply for a licence for a sexual entertainment venue. Any licences that are granted will commence as follows:
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Grant to an existing premises - commence on 1 April 2012.
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Grant to new premises before 1 April 2012 - commence on or before 1 April 2012.
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Grant to new premises after 1 April 2012 - commence on the date of grant.
The application process is set out in the policy. Applications must be made on the standard application form, using continuation sheets where necessary. A public notice must be displayed on the premises for 21 days from the date the application is made, and also published in a local newspaper within 7 days of the application being made.
Five applications were considered by members of the Licensing Committee in December. The determinations were:
Standard conditions to be attached to licences for sexual entertainment venues were agreed in July 2011 and are available below.
An Equality Impact Assessment has also been carried out in relation to the Council's policy.
