At its meeting on 6 September 2012 the Committee had agreed to adopt further powers to regulate Sexual Entertainment Venues. The Licensing Partnership Manager clarified that the Council had not previously had a policy for Sex Shops, Sex Cinemas and Sexual Entertainment Venues, that there were no such venues in the District and that she was not aware that any applications for a licence were forthcoming. However it would be appropriate to adopt a policy before any application for a licence was made. The Policy would be sent for consultation before approval.

The list of consultees for the Policy would be similar to those for the Gambling Act 2005 Policy. Officers would also consult those who responded to the initial consultation on adopting further powers to regulate Sexual Entertainment Venues and Officers would also take into account the request, made in comments to the Gambling Act 2005 Policy, that the list of consultees should be extended.

Members advised Officers that, during the consultation, they should make it clear to the public which types of venue which would be regulated under the Policy and which could not.

In response to a question, the Licensing Partnership Manager pointed out that although Members could not refuse on moral grounds to put such a venue, for example, next to a church Members may still consider that the application should be refused on grounds such as that the proposal would not be in keeping with the character of the locality.

It was confirmed that the process for considering an application for a licence was likely to be similar to the process for considering an application made under the Licensing Act 2003. However these delegations would need to be considered separately and the details would be finalised at a later meeting.

Resolved: To agree that consultation be held on the policy.