Cheltenham Borough Council has launched a 6-week consultation on proposed amendments to its licensing policy for sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) in Cheltenham.
The consultation is set to close on 24 March 2025.
It is an overarching principle of the policy that the council cannot take any moral stand in relation to the licensing of SEVs. The council recognises that Parliament has made it lawful to operate a sex entertainment establishment and that such businesses are a legitimate part of the retail and leisure industries.
It is this council’s role as the licensing authority to administer the licensing regime in accordance with the law.
The council’s existing licensing policy was adopted by Full Council in 2020. The council is fully aware of the polarised views on the operation of these types of venues in Cheltenham. In consulting on proposed amendments to the council’s policy, the overarching consideration is always public safety and protection.
Key policy proposals include:
- Retaining the nil SEV limit for the vast majority of the borough and imposing a maximum limit on the number of permitted licensed SEVs in the designated area within the town centre to two (currently there is no limit);
- Adoption of an “Acquired Rights” through which the authority proposes to determine that these licensed SEVs will continue to be renewed, on application, by the existing operators during the lifetime of this policy if there is no material change in the character of the area in the intervening period;
- New requirement for a “Designated Person in Charge” as part of all future licensing applications;
- New guidance to assist the Licensing Committee with assessing the suitability of licence applications and applicants where the discretionary grounds for refusal are engaged;
- Strengthening conditions on performer welfare; and
- Extending the designated area within the town centre to include a greater section of the Promenade including a licensed SEV at Under the Prom.
Councillor Victoria Atherstone, cabinet member for safety and communities, said: “It’s important as a council we ensure safety for all, across all venues in our town centre, whether they are restaurants, leisure or other licensed venues such as SEVs, that are all lawful to operate. We do this by regulating and licensing their activities. The council cannot legally stop SEVs from operating, and the council cannot lawfully consider moral objections to such applications either.
“Adopting a nil limit throughout the entire borough would not stop such businesses from operating, as they would use the exemption which has recently happened. People may not realise, the exemption provides opportunities for any businesses to operate a SEV, legally, without needing to inform the council or needing to get a licence. This is not the safest way to operate and historically our licensing committee has voted to oversee and regulate, rather than allowing such businesses to operate unlicensed and unregulated.
“As such it is important our licensing policy remains relevant, is robust and is up to date to promote the highest possible standards of safety and regulation for everyone’s benefit. The alternative is that the legal loophole, that allows for unregulated entertainment, will be exploited by operators which will pose a real public safety risk.
“To ensure the council’s policy is inclusive of all views, I urge residents, businesses, operators, performers and anyone else to take this opportunity to engage with the consultation. Collectively our broad range of views will inform our SEV policy for the next three years.”