Issue - meetings

Decision:

That the draft Licensing of Sex Establishments Statementof LicensingPolicy 2022-2025, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, be approved.

Reason:

Adopting an updated Licensing of Sex Establishments Policy would provide guidance to applicants and a framework to enable the Council to make consistent and transparent decisions when determining applications for sex establishments.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Under the Policingand CrimeAct2009 local authorities became able to adopt apolicyand standardconditionsrelatingto sexualentertainment venues, sexshops andsexcinemas. There were no such venues in the Borough but it was good practice for the Council to hold an up to date policy should the situation change. The Executive had last agreed and adopted apolicywith standardconditionson 30 October 2018. That policy was due to expire and an updated policy, reflecting best practice but with no policy changes was presented to the Executive for approval. The revised policy had been subject to public consultation and was recommended to the Executive by the Licensing Committee on 29 September 2021.

The Lead Councillor for Environment introduced the report. The Executive considered the updated policy and consequently,

RESOLVED, that the draft Licensing of Sex Establishments Statementof LicensingPolicy 2022-2025, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

Reason:

Adopting an updated Licensing of Sex Establishments Policy would provide guidance to applicants and a framework to enable the Council to make consistent and transparent decisions when determining applications for sex establishments.

The Committee noted that the Licensing of Sex Establishments: Statement of Licensing Policy 2022-25 went to consultation for a 6-week period between 5 July and 20 August 2021.  One consultation response was received during that time and no changes were required to be made to the policy as a result.

The Committee having considered the report;

RESOLVED to recommend that the Executive approved the draft Licensing of Sex Establishments Statement of Licensing Policy 2022-25 at its meeting on 26 October 2021.

The Committee is asked to approve the draft licensing of Sex Establishments Policy 2022-25 for public consultation and instruct officers to carry out the consultation over a 6-week period.

The Committee noted that the Council was the Licensing Authority for regulating sexual entertainment venues in Guildford.  Guildford currently did not have any such venues, however the policy for regulating sexual entertainment venue was subject to review every three years and was required should somebody come forward with an application.  No changes were envisaged to be made to the policy and therefore the Committee was asked to approve that the policy went for public consultation, for a period of 6 weeks, after which it would be submitted for approval by the Committee later this year. 

The Committee discussed the policy and asked for clarification as to whether the Licensing Team were aware of venues operating sexual entertainment venues without a licence and how that was effectively monitored with the Police. 

The Senior Specialist for Licensing and Community Safety confirmed that the Licensing Authority worked closely with the Police in monitoring venues activities with routine checks undertaken.  Pubwatch was another means through which venues were monitored.  The Police and Licensing Authority shared information and worked closely together. 

The Committee having considered the report;

RESOLVED to approve the draft Licensing of Sex Establishments Policy 2022-2025 for public consultation and instruct officers to carry out the consultation over a 6-week period. 

That the Committee considers the draft Licensing of Sex Establishments Policy 2018-2021 following the public consultation, and recommends its adoption by the Executive at its meeting on 23 October 2018.

The Committee received a report on the licensing of sex establishments: Statement of Licensing Policy 2018-2021 that had been updated and approved for public consultation by Licensing Committee on 30 May 2018. 

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 amended the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Schedule 3 to introduce a new classification of sex establishment, namely sexual entertainment venues.  This brought a new licensing regime into force for lap dancing, pole dancing and other “relevant entertainment”.  The provisions allow the Council to improve the regulation of sexual entertainment venues, as there are increased powers to control numbers and location of venues in the area.  There are currently no licensed sexual entertainment venues in the Borough.  Following the consultation, the responses did not indicate any changes were required to the draft policy consulted upon.  The Sexual Entertainment Venue Policy will be reviewed every three years. 

The Committee having considered the report

RESOLVED

That the Committee notes the results of the public consultation on the draft licensing of Sex Establishments Policy 2018-2021 and recommends the policy for approval by the Executive at its meeting on 23 October 2018.