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.

In response to a question around the proposed reduction of fees for 2016/17, the Assistant Director Environmental Health & Public Protection stated that, as there were currently no Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in the City and the Policy was not to allow any, a theoretical charge could not be put down for enforcement. He went on to state that the proposed fee reductions were minimal and that the City would be in a robust position if asked to defend these. He reassured Members that the fees would continue to be reviewed annually.

In response to further questions, the Assistant Director Environmental Health & Public Protection confirmed that the fees were calculated according to an estimation of the work that would be required in this area. He added that Officers did not anticipate that these fees would continue to reduce each year and that they could be adjusted upwards in the future if required. The Chamberlain confirmed that the proposed reduction in fees for 2016/17 were as a result of a re-assessment of the time involved in ‘policing’ this area.

A Member commented that it would be useful for the Committee to have sight of the assumptions made in calculating these proposed fees. The Chamberlain undertook to provide this information in the form of a non-public report to the Licensing Committee.

Finally, the Deputy Chairman highlighted that the City Corporation would be precluded from setting fees for the purpose of deterring future applications.

RESOLVED – That, Members agree the proposed fees for 2016/17 as set out at Appendix 1.