Sex Establishment Statement of Licensing Policy Consultation
In September 2011 the Council adopted a new policy which related to the licensing of sex establishments, including sexual entertainment venues, sex shops and sex cinemas.
Following the licensing of the city’s seven sexual entertainment venues, the council has reviewed the policy and is now consulting upon the proposed changes which includes:
- Stating that it would not be appropriate to locate a lap dancing club outside of the city centre
- Stating that the appropriate number of lap dancing clubs in the city is 4, providing they are not in sensitive locations or near sensitive uses
- Information on sensitive uses and locations
- A number of changes to the standard conditions
- A new section on Child Friendly City
- Removal of the application forms from the policy (these will be available on the website)
This is not a complete list and a copy of the policy with the changes shown is provided in the document section on this page, along with a copy of the questionnaire that was sent to the Citizen's Panel and a summary of the results.
We are seeking the views of residents, support organisations and other interested people on the policy and standard conditions. These should be sent in writing to Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR or by email to entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk or by using the online form at Talking Point.
The consultation will run between 18th March to 26th April 2013.
You can access the policy document and a report describing the main changes from the download section on this page. If you prefer we will be happy to send you a pack in the post. Please call Entertainment Licensing on 0113 247 4095.
At the end of the consultation period, the council will produce a consultation report which describes the responses it has received, and any changes that may be proposed as a consequence. Although we intend to anonymise the responses we receive, the contents will be included in the consultation report. Please indicate in your response if this is of concern to you, or if you would specifically like your details to be released.
We would like this consultation to reach as many people as possible to ensure that everyone has their say. Please spread the word. This webpage can be accessed using the URL www.leeds.gov.uk/spc.
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Application Process
Leeds has licensed sex shops and sex cinemas since 1983 and sexual entertainment venues since 2011. Details of the licensing regime is detailed below.
Licence summary
In order to run a sex establishment you may need a licence from the local authority. However, you may apply to the local authority requesting them to waive the requirement of a licence.
Eligibility Criteria
An applicant:
- must be at least 18 years old
- must not be disqualified from holding a licence
- must have been resident in the UK at least six months immediately before the application or, if a body corporate, must be incorporated in the UK
- must not have been refused the grant or renewal of a licence for the premises in question within the last 12 months unless the refusal has been reversed on appeal
Regulation Summary
A summary of the regulation relating to this licence
Application Evaluation Process
Fees will be payable for applications and conditions may be attached. Applications must be in writing (including by electronic means) and contain any information the local authority requires, as well as the applicant's name, address and, where the applicant is an individual, their age, plus the address of the premises. Applicants must give public notice of their application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.
Forms to download, print and post or email
You can download forms from this page that you can complete and post or email to us.
Apply online
Apply for a sex establishment licence
Tell us about a change to your existing sex establishment licence
Please note that should you use the UK Welcomes or Business Link sites to apply for your licence, further information will be required by the council and you should refer to the guidance notes available on this page.
Redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal, appeal to the local magistrates' court. However, the right to appeal does not apply where the licence was refused on the grounds that:
- the number of sex establishments in the area exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate
- the grant of the licence would be inappropriate considering the character of the area, the nature of other premises in the area, or the premises themselves
A licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition can appeal to a local magistrates' court.
Licence holders may at any time apply to the authority for a variation of the terms, conditions or restrictions in their licence. If an application for a variation is refused, or if the licence is revoked, the licence holder may, within 21 days of being notified of the imposition of, or the refusal to vary, the term, condition or restriction in question, or of the revocation, appeal to the local magistrates' court. A licence holder may also appeal to the crown court against a decision of a magistrates' court.
Any person objecting to an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence may give written notice of their objection to the relevant authority, stating the grounds of the objection, within 28 days of the date of the application.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, please contact us and we can investigate your complaint.
Use of Personal Data
We are under a duty to protect the public funds we administer and to this end may use the information you have provided in your application for the prevention and detection of fraud. We may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.
