Policy rejects calls for ban on city sex entertainment venues

Leeds City Council has drawn up a new policy to ensure that sex entertainment venues in the city operate in a safe and discreet manner and are sensitive to the local area.

Following public talks the council’s licensing committee has endorsed the new policy and referred it to the council’s executive board for a final decision.

During the consultation, some people suggested the council should not allow any sexual entertainment venues in the city. While this was considered, the new policy proposes that raising standards and providing a fair working environment is better enabled and enforced through a licensing regime.

The draft policy pays particular attention to advertising, staff welfare and the external appearance of the sex establishments, including venues like lap-dancing clubs and strip clubs, sex shops and sex cinemas.

The chairman of the licensing committee, Coun Suzi Armitage, said: “We have spent the last few months speaking to many groups and organisations to help us fully understand people’s concerns about sex entertainment venues to help us draft the policy. This new policy is not about endorsing such venues but will help us control where they can be located, preventing them from opening up in inappropriate areas.

“But we also want to ensure they operate in a safe and discreet way so the policy also looks at how we can best protect staff welfare and control advertising and external appearance.”

A report prepared for members says: “Over the past few years the council has received a number of complaints relating to the way sex establishments are advertised. This included promotional material sited outside the premises, advertisements, the use of vehicles and promotional material.

“The working group discussed the current conditions placed on sex shops in relation to advertisement, and used these as a basis. It was decided that all advertisements should be approved by the council.

“This way matters such as decency, location/positioning and offence can be dealt with on a case by case basis.”

During the consultation, the council sought the views of the police, industry and support groups, local religious groups, ward members and local MPs as well as members of the public.

The authority’s new policy aims to strike a balance between the needs of the businesses to market their venues, the need to protect the image of the city and the desire of the public not to have sexual images blatantly displayed.

It has written in to the new policy that the council must approve the external appearance and advertising of these venues.

The welfare of dancers at sex entertainment venues is a high priority of the new policy and research carried out by the University of Leeds has been considered in the development of the new policy.

The research showed staff are often fearful of reporting crimes so the new policy would also require that all premises provide this information to new staff as part of a “Dancer’s Welfare Pack.”

The report found: “There was particular concern that staff do not report crime as they are not aware of how to do this safely and confidentially.”

In addition, codes of conduct for staff and customers will have to be drawn up and will be scrutinised as part of the application process.

The licensing regime is due to start a transitional phase on October 1 2011 with all new licenses coming into effect from 1 October 2012.

The Sex Establishment Statement of Licensing Policy will be available to view on the council’s website at www.leeds.gov.uk/spc from October 1.