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- November 2008
- LGA criticises 'nonsense' police election plans
- LGA response to location strategy
- LGA plans for the future of child protection
- LGA responds to Local Government Finance Settlement
- Councils striding forward in adult social care despite severe financial pressures – LGA
- Supporting People Grant ringfence lifted – LGA response
- LGA Chairman gives keynote speech on child protection
- LGA response to Sub-National Review
- Increase number of women and ethnic minority firefighters, councillors urged
- Residents must carry on recycling
- Gritters on high alert for big freeze
- Response to Vernon Coaker's comments at the Lords Constitution Committee
- New report reveals how recession could affect the regions
- Post office closures will ‘rip the heart out of local areas’
- Councils come to the rescue as recession bites - new publication
- Leading the preventing violent extremism agenda
- Recycling rates rise but still more to do
- Urgent action needed on lap-dancing loophole
- Approach to eco towns is 'ill-advised' - LGA
- One in three hospital scales inaccurate, says LACORS
Urgent action needed on lap-dancing loophole
LGA media release – 4 November 2008
Steps to close a loophole in licensing laws, which is allowing a rash of lap-dancing clubs and undermining local democracy, must be taken urgently, the Local Government Association will say tonight.
In a speech on how best to reform the Licensing Act, Deputy Chair of the Association, Richard Kemp, will call for the reclassification of the clubs as places of sexual entertainment, rather than leaving them in the same category as bars and cafes as is currently the case.
The number of lap-dancing venues in Britain has doubled to around 300 since 2004, and the LGA believes views of local residents are going unheard and unheeded because councils cannot take into account concerns such as how the clubs fit into a neighbourhood. This has also left town halls unable to prevent the spread of the venues in some areas.
Following a consultation with local authorities the Government has promised to act, with the Home Secretary announcing on October 9th that she will legislate to give councils the controls they need. The move will probably involve lap-dancing clubs being recategorised as sex encounter establishments, the same definition as applies to sex shops and sex cinemas.
Cllr Richard Kemp will urge that the law is changed quickly and closes the loophole effectively, so the views of local people can be considered fully in the future.
In his speech, Cllr Richard Kemp will say:
“The new licensing laws were intended to give local people more of a say on how pubs and clubs are run in their area but when it comes to lap-dancing establishments councils often find there’s little they can do to respond to people’s wishes.
“The law as it stands does not allow councils to consider the type of entertainment being provided or any concerns about the impact it may have on surrounding homes and businesses. Parents' concerns about their children, or neighbours' concerns about links to prostitution and other crime, should not be ruled out on technical grounds.
“It’s a loophole which needs closing as soon as possible.
“Local democracy depends on people being able to voice their opinions, and on councils being able to consider those views.
“Our towns and cities should be shaped as far as possible according to residents’ wishes, not by the presence of unwanted lap-dancing clubs in the heart of them.”
ENDS
Author: LGA Media office
Contact: Sarah Cordey, tel 020 7664 3143
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Richard Kemp is speaking at a public meeting organised by Object and the Fawcett Society:
Date: Tuesday 4 November 2008
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Venue: The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, London. SW1A 2LW