Agenda item

The report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration requests Members to consider the renewal of a sex establishment licence for a sex shop made by Nice N Naughty Leisurewear Ltd, 127-129 Brook Street, Chester, CH1 3DU.

(Report attached)

Members were requested to consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing, and Registration for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for a sex shop.

The Chair permitted additional documents which provided information and photographs of the premises and other premises owned by Nice N Naughty to be submitted to the hearing. The documents were distributed to all parties.

The application was made by Nice N Naughty Leisurewear Ltd, 127-129 Brook Street, Chester, CH1 3DU. The sex establishment licence was for their premises at 164 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6LY.

Members were provided with a brief history of the premises, in which they noted that the premises had previously been known as Clone Zone before going into liquidation and transferring to Nice N Naughty.

Members noted that these premises had been licensed as a sex shop for many years.Members also noted that each year in February Nice N Naughty had successfully renewed their licence without objection.

It was noted that the Licensing Authority had received no objections from West Yorkshire Police. However, the Licensing Authority had received one objection. Councillor Mohammed Iqbal was present at the hearing.

The Licensing Sub Committee heard from Trish Murray the Operations Director of Nice N Naughty. Ms Murray informed the Members that Nice N Naughty had been trading for 17 years across different locations under the same name.

The Licensing Sub Committee heard that Nice N Naughty had traded from the premises in Leeds since 2009 when the company had obtained 5 shops which had gone into receivership.

Ms Murray explained that the brand had started in Chester in 1999 and they had changed the image of the adult retail stores, and now attracted a large number of female customers.  She said that the brand had received a number of awards and accreditation for customer service.

Members were advised of the location of the shop on a main street close to Queens Court.

Ms Murray said that since taking over the premises they had worked with the Council to provide a discreet entrance, window displays were monitored and that the company had a strict Challenge 25 policy. This included not allowing children accompanied by adults to enter the shop.

Ms Murray explained that Nice N Naughty did have a website which offered post or click and collect service. However, their customers preferred to come into the shop and receive a face to face customer service.  Members were informed that the internet business made up approximately 5-10 % of the business.

Members heard that the Leeds shop was one of the busiest stores for through the door sales with many customers returning. Members also heard that the company had good staff retention with one member of staff been employed since the opening of the store.

Councillor Iqbal addressed the Licensing Sub Committee explaining that he had no objection to people walking into the store or the items that were for sale. However, he did object to the name of the store.

Councillor Iqbal was of the view that the name was provocative and could be a cause of embarrassment for parents passing by with children.

Councillor Iqbal said that the Council’s aim was to encourage more people into the city and he was of the opinion that the name went against the strategy for a child friendly city.

Members were informed by Councillor Iqbal that he was attending the hearing on behalf of the ward party where concerns had been raised in relation to the recent granting of a new licence for a sex establishment venue within the ward and the renewal of this premises licence for a sex shop.

Members discussed the following points:

·  That no links could be made with the renewal of this licence and the recent granting of the sex establishment venue licence.

·  Families who lived in the city centre did so usually for the vibrancy and liberalism that the city centre offered.

·  The policy for sex establishment venues

·  The possibility of a change of name

Ms Murray informed the Members that it would be difficult to change the name of the shop as it was not just a name but a national brand. She went on to say that the shop had controlled entry, was in keeping with the high street, did not have flashing neon signs and had received no objections to previous renewals.

RESOLVED – To grant the renewal of the sex establishment venue licence as applied for.