Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration on an application made under Section 2 and Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by TRL Promotions Ltd for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the premises known as Liberté, 10 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DS. The application includes the external appearance of the premises and all advertising material used to promote the business. The current licence was renewed for a period of 12 months, expiring on the 30^th September 2017.

Please note: Appendix B is exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1, 2 & 3)

(Report attached)

The Head of Elections, Licensing and Registration submitted a report on an application made under Section 2 and Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (the Act) for the renewal of a sex establishment  for premises known as Liberté, 10 York Place, Leeds LS1. The current licence was renewed in 2016 for a period of 12 months and had expired on the 30^th September 2017. The application was made by TRL Promotions Ltd.

Under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rules 10.4 (1, 2 &3) Appendix B of the report was deemed to be exempt from publication. Appendix C contained a number of operating policies employed at the premises submitted in support of the application along with photographs of the external appearance of the premises.

The Sub Committee noted receipt of one letter of objection from Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL). As no one from SARSVL attended the hearing, the Sub Committee resolved to proceed in their absence and take the written representation into account.

It was noted that no other representations had been submitted to the renewal application. Additionally, no complaints about the premises had been reported during the previous 12 months.

Mr J Skeens represented the applicant at the meeting. Mr S Mohmed and Ms M Haruta were also in attendance along with several observers.

Mr Skeens explained that this application to renew the licence was exactly the same as the one submitted and approved in 2016. Additionally, the advertisement materials and the external appearance of the premises were unchanged since 2016. In respect of the letter of representation received, Mr Skeens commented that this covered much the same information as the SARSVL letter submitted to the renewal application made in 2016.

The Sub Committee having carefully read the application; considered the written submissions contained in the report and those made by Mr Skeens on behalf of the applicant at the hearing alongside the Council’s own Statement of Licensing Policy for Sex Establishments.

RESOLVED – To grant the renewal application as requested. To clarify:

·  The Sex Establishment Licence shall run for one year, expiring on 30^th September 2018

·  The hours of operation are 22:00 until 04:00 hours Sunday to Thursday and 22:00 until 05:00 hours Friday & Saturday

·  Approval is given to the external appearance of the premises and all advertising material used to promote the business as set out in Appendix D of the report

·  The Conditions as set out in Appendix G shall be incorporated in to the Licence