Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That Councillor Armitage be elected Chair of the meeting

To highlight reports or appendices which:

a)  officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

b)  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

c)  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of those parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information

2) To note that under the Licensing Procedure rules, the press and the public will be excluded from that part of the hearing where Members will deliberate on each application  as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have a full and frank debate on the matter before them.

RESOLVED –That the press and public will be excluded from that part of the proceedings where Members deliberate the applications received in respect of the premises known as Liberte, Red Leopard, Purple Door, Silks, Black Diamond Club, Deep Blue and Wildcats as it is in the public interest to allow the Members to have full and frank debate on the matter, as allowed under the provisions of the Licensing Procedure Rules. It was further noted that the applications had been dealt with at public hearings held between Monday 11^th June and Thursday 14^th June 2012 where members of the public had been advised that decisions on the applications would be made available once all applications for the new Sex Establishment Licences to be issued under the terms of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Policing and crime act 2009) had been determined

To identify any applications as late items of business which have been admitted to the agenda for consideration

 (the special circumstances shall be identified in the minutes)

No late items of business were added to the agenda

Members are reminded to declare any interests at the start of the hearing on each application for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of conduct

Councillor G Hussain reported that he had not attended the hearing relating to the Black Diamond premises as he knew the applicant and his place on the Sub Committee had been taken by Councillor Selby. Furthermore he had not participated in the decision making process relating to that application.

To determine applications for Sex Establishments within the City and Hunslet ward previously heard by the Sub Committee on 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th June 2012 respectively.

Please note that under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1,2 and 3) the deliberations of the Sub Committee will be held in closed session, the hearings having already been dealt with in open session

The Sub Committee convened to deliberate on applications heard previously for the grant of sex establishment licences for seven premises located within Leeds city centre.

Members had regard to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (Schedule 3) as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009 which introduced a new classification of sex establishment, namely sexual entertainment venues and a new licensing regime for lap dancing, pole dancing and other relevant entertainment venues. Leeds City Council had adopted the provisions of Schedule 3 on 19 January 2011 following extensive research and consultation with the trade, academics, action groups and the public - resulting in the Leeds City Council Licensing of Sex Establishments - Statement of Licensing Policy which had been agreed by Executive Board in September 2011.

The Sub Committee had regard to that Policy, adopted by Leeds City Council, which did not choose to place a limit on the number of permitted lap dancing venues within the city but instead set out the approach of encouraging the responsible promotion of licensed activities through frank discussions with the trade, the imposition of conditions and effective enforcement to address problems in partnership with key agencies.

The Sub Committee retained the mandatory and discretionary grounds open to it to refuse any application for a licence, or to impose appropriate conditions.  The LCC Statement of Licensing Policy contained 56 standard conditions which the Sub Committee could choose to impose, or add to or vary at the time a licence was granted, should it choose to grant a licence. 

Members noted that applications had been received from only 7 of the existing 10 lap dancing venue licence holders.  If granted, these licences would take effect from 1 October 2012 and last for 12 months, at which time an application to renew the licence would have to be made.

The Sub Committee carefully considered the applications and verbal submissions made at the previous hearings throughout the week on behalf of the applicants.

The Sub Committee also had regard to the written objections received from members of parliament, councillors, Leeds Object, Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds, and anonymous members of the public. Members had also heard verbal submissions throughout the week from objectors in attendance at the hearings. Members felt that these objections were primarily of a general nature dealing with all lap dancing clubs in Leeds, with only a small number of objections specific to certain establishments. Members also felt that many objections received raised moral objections against lap dancing establishments in general. 

The Sub Committee also considered those objections received raising concerns about the number of lap dancing establishments in Leeds and asking for the number to be arbitrarily halved or capped. Members therefore had regard to the Policy adopted by Leeds City Council which did not set a limit on the numbers of establishments but ensured that each application would be judged on its own merits. The Sub Committee noted that the Policy would be reviewed in approximately 18 months  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.