Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection regarding an annual review of fees for Sex Establishments.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that they were legally required to set and review fees for Sexual Establishments.

A Member suggested that the proposed 10% increase in fees on previous years was not a small increase but a fairly large marginal increase. He asked for some justification of this.

In response to a question regarding the decision of the Supreme Court which was later upheld by the European Court as referred to in the report, the Licensing Manager reported that this ruling effectively allowed Licensing Officers to now charge for the enforcement of unlicensed premises.

The Licensing Manager went on to state that it had now been some time since the Committee had had a policy on Sex Establishments and suggested that this should be revisited in the next 12 months. In response to questions, the Licensing Manager informed Members that Sex Entertainment Venues were primarily what was colloquially referred to as ‘lap dancing’ venues whereas Sex Establishments also included Sex Shops and Sex Cinemas.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that there were currently no Sex Establishments in the City.

RESOLVED – That, Members agree the proposed fees for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 1.