Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory requests consideration for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. This application is made by Ruby May (2) Limited, for a premises to operate under the name of Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR.

The report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory, requested Members’ consideration for the renewal of a sex establishment licence for the provision of sexual entertainment in the form of lap dancing. The application was made by Ruby May (2) Limited, for a premises to operate under the name of Purple Door, 5 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2DR.

In attendance at the meeting were:

·  Sarah Smith, Sintons Law – Applicant’s Representative

·  Nicholas Quadrini, Director of Ruby May (2) Ltd – Applicant

·  Carl Copeland, Manager

·  Marcus Quadrini – observing

·  Susan Duckworth, Officer from Entertainment Licensing

The Legal Officer set out the procedure for the hearing.

The Licensing Officer presented the application to the Sub-Committee providing the following information:

·  The hours of operation are to remain as existing:

o  22:00hrs until 04:00hrs Sunday to Thursday

o  22:00hrs until 05:00hrs Friday and Saturday

·  A copy of the application was appended to the submitted report at Appendix B.

·  Members were advised that additional documents were attached to the report at Appendix C, which included:

o  Dancers Welfare Pack

o  Dancers Code of Conduct

o  Customers Code of Conduct

o  Pricing Policy

o  Trade Union Details.

·  Members were requested to consider the external appearance and all methods of advertising. Photographs of the external appearance were attached at Appendix D. It was noted that the appearance of the premises would remain the same as when the licence was last renewed.

·  The application had attracted a representation from Entertainment Licensing suggesting revised conditions replace the existing conditions on the licence. A review of the conditions in consultation with the existing Sexual Entertainment Venues identified out of date, redundant and in some cases unworkable conditions. Copies of the representation and the revised conditions were appended to the report at Appendix E.

·  No other representations had been received.

The applicant’s representative provided the Sub-Committee with the following information:

·  This application is for a renewal of the licence only.

·  Purple Door is one of the longest established Sexual Entertainment Venues in Leeds, and since 2012 has held a Sexual Establishment Licence.

·  There are no changes to the external appearance of the premises and no internal changes.

·  Purple Door does not use vehicles to attract customers.

·  Purple Door is approving of the changes made to the conditions and have updated the dancer’s welfare pack following discussions with Entertainment Licensing.

·  The locality of the venue has not changed and there is a mix of offices, residences and restaurants in the area.

·  The operation of Purple Door is tried and tested and works well. The number of customers has decreased slightly due to covid.

·  The new conditions will make documents and practices much clearer and simpler.

·  No concerns had been raised with the premises.

The officer from Entertainment Licensing informed the Sub-Committee that this was not an objection; more of a letter to consider updating the conditions.

The Team had worked with the Sexual Entertainment Venues suggesting updates, which included:

·  Electronic documents

·  Conditions that were easier to comply with and enforce.

·  CCTV updates

·  Price lists were to be provided on entry to the premises.

·  Pre work checks to be undertaken including DBS checks right to work checks, this was to protect the workers and the venues.

·  There were also rules around no touching and what is and is not allowed.

It was the view that these revised conditions are more up to date and sensible. It was also the suggestion that the dancers should be able to access links to Leeds Women’s Aid should they require it.

Responding to questions from Members the Sub-Committee were provided with the following information:

·  It was noted that the welfare of the dancers was important to Purple Door, and they already provide contacts for trade unions. Information for Leeds Women’s Aid would be added to the welfare pack. It was agreed that this was a good idea.

·  Contracts and welfare packs could be made available in the dancer’s first language. However, most of the dancers have good English as they do converse with customers.

RESOLVED – To grant the licence as applied for with the new standard conditions and to approve the external appearance of the premises.