New powers for council over lap dancing clubs?

West Berkshire councillors will vote whether to adopt new legal powers at a full council meeting tonight (Thursday)

ANY prospective lap dancing clubs in West Berkshire are likely to have to adhere to a new legal licensing requirement and tighter controls if the district council decides to adopt new legal powers today (Thursday).

Council officers have recommended that councillors adopt section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 at tonight's full council meeting in Newbury, meaning local residents would be able to oppose an application for a licence of a lap dancing club, or similar business, if they had concerns that it would be inappropriate for the type of area, if it was mainly residential for example.

The Act introduces adoptive provisions to allow local authorities to regulate these types of establishments.

It would also mean:

- licences would have to be renewed at least yearly, when local people can again raise objections.

- the authority could reject a licence application if it believes that to grant a licence for a lap dancing club or similar would be inappropriate given the character of a particular area.

- the authority could set a limit on the number of Sex Entertainment Venues (premises at which relevant entertainment is provided for a live audience for financial gain of the organiser or performer) that it thinks is appropriate for the area (locality).

- the authority could impose a wider range of conditions on the licences of lap dancing clubs or similar, than it is currently able to do under the Licensing Act 2003.

Currently, no lap dancing clubs or other businesses of this nature operate in West Berkshire, but the district's executive councillor for public protection, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), said yesterday (Wednesday): “I believe taking up these powers is a sensible move. It will allow us to be able to take residents views into account should an applicant wish to open such a business in the district.

“It will also ensure that we can put suitable restrictions in place if such an application were to be approved.”

Log back onto Newburytoday.co.uk to see the outcome of the proposal tomorrow (Friday).