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- August 2008
- Town halls respond to Government housing proposals
- LGA response to LABGI decisions
- Council leaders lobby cabinet ministers for levy on energy suppliers
- New survey shows overwhelming support for changes to electoral register
- Criminal gangs threat to British institution
- Britain's future Olympians promised a boost from town halls
- Businesses must do more to reduce waste
- Rank actions of bogus cabs prompt councils to act
- Councils to join LGA climate change campaign
- Making savings from the bottom up
- Town halls warn that Britain is becoming the 'obesity capital of the world'
- People left exposed by lap-dance legislation
- Councils issue safety warnings as trampoline injuries jump
- Death of Sandy Bruce-Lockhart mourned by politicians from all parties
- Grate drain robbery could kill – council leaders warn
- Planning Bill loophole "will silence local people"
- It's bangers and cash as number of dumped cars plummets
- Councils taking tough stance on underage knife sales
- Councils slam ‘shocking lack of consultation’ on new bail accommodation
- Recycling rates rise
- Modern day Del Boys force call for law change
People left exposed by lap-dance legislation
LGA media release - 15 August 2008
Local people’s views on lap-dancing clubs are going unheard and unheeded because of a loophole in the licensing laws, council leaders will warn today.
The number of lap-dancing venues in Britain has doubled to around 300 since 2004 and in a letter to ministers, the Local Government Association will call for an urgent amendment to give authorities more control over the situation.
The 2003 Licensing Act puts the clubs in the same category as bars and cafes rather than considering them as places of sexual entertainment.
It means residents’ concerns about the kind of customers which may be attracted or the suitability of a specific location cannot be taken into account.
One example which highlights the problem is that of Southwark Council, which was unable to use the proximity of a venue to a cathedral as grounds to refuse a licence. A club was only prevented from opening by a clause in the lease for the premises concerned.
The LGA has written to Gerry Sutcliffe at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of a consultation on the issue, which closes today, and the response has also been sent to Vernon Coaker at the Home Office and Minister for Women, Harriet Harman.
The letter from Vice Chairman, Sir Jeremy Beecham, said:
“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.
“It’s a loophole which needs closing.
“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, 0207 664 3333
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Full letter attached. It was signed by Sir Jeremy Beecham, vice chairman of the LGA, on behalf of the LGA Group. The LGA Group includes LACORS, which oversees councils’ work regarding the Licensing Act 2003.
Dear Mr Sutcliffe,
Control of lap-dancing establishments
The LGA has raised concerns about the licensing of lap-dancing clubs and similar venues on behalf of its members in the past, and fully supports the Government’s consultation on the issue.
The new licensing laws, under the Licensing Act 2003, 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 and the type of people it may attract. Residents who find out about a proposed lap-dancing club often have worries about a potential increase in crime and a proliferation of these kinds of venues, but councils are not always able to take these concerns into account. It’s a loophole which needs closing.
The Government will be aware of many instances where local people have opposed the opening of a lap-dancing club. One example which highlights the problems with the current laws is that of Southwark Council, which was unable to use the proximity of a venue to a cathedral as grounds to refuse a licence. A club was only prevented from opening by a clause in the lease for the premises concerned. We do not believe that planning, indecency or obscenity legislation offer an effective remedy to public concerns, operating, as do the sanctions under the Licensing Act, after the event. We believe the issue would be best dealt with proactively by having venues offering strip-tease and similar ‘adult’ or sexual entertainment licensed under Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1982, as “sex encounter establishments” (as defined in the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1986), rather than being judged alongside bars and cafes.
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. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter further with you and your officials.
Yours sincerely,
Sir Jeremy Beecham
Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association