LICENSING OF SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUES

Through a proposed amendment at Thursday evening's meeting of Thanet District Council, Shadow Member for Environmental Services Cllr Alan Poole called for a ban on granting sexual entertainment licenses to venues close to schools and places of worship and for a public consultation to ascertain residents' views on any criteria the Licensing Board should meet before granting a license.

Cllr Poole said "the Labour group of councillors on TDC is strongly opposed to these types of entertainment premises but we understand they cannot be banned outright so we are therefore forced to take a pragmatic approach.

However, at the very least we ask that they should not be situated close to schools or places of worship or any place where children may gather. We would also like to know residents’ views on exactly what criteria the Licensing Board should use before granting any such license".
The Chairman refused to take the Labour amendment but provisions for the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues and fees were adopted unanimously.

NOTE: Agenda item 11 - Licensing Of Sexual Entertainment Venues - The amendment tabled on Thursday evening:
The Labour Group fully supports the adoption of Option 3.1 as this will increase the powers of the Licensing Board to control this type of establishment.
However, the Labour Group requests that the following should be prominently included in the Licensing Of Sexual Entertainment Venues Policy…… “the Licensing Board will consider the option to refuse a license where the premises are close to a school or place of worship or any place where children may gather.”
Additionally the Labour Group believe that a Public Consultation will be undertaken within six months to ascertain Stakeholder views regarding possible additional criteria the Licensing Board should meet before granting a license.
The amendment as an additional paragraph to Option 3.1 reads:-
1. The Licensing Board will consider the option to refuse a license where the premises are close to a school or place of worship or any place where children may gather.
2. A Public Consultation will be undertaken within six months to ascertain Stakeholder views regarding possible additional criteria the Licensing Board should meet before granting a license.