Councils pressing ahead with sexual entertainment venue licensing, says research

The vast majority of local authorities have decided to adopt the provisions that govern the licensing of sexual entertainment venues, research by Poppleston Allen has revealed.

Of the authorities the licensing law firm has contacted, some 86.4% have already adopted the legislation and almost a third (31.4%) are operating under the new regime.

A further 9.9% are in the process of adopting the legislation. Just 3.7% of councils have decided against the move.

Lisa Sharkey, a partner at Poppleston Allen, said: “Most authorities have decided to adopt the provisions, even if they have no current venues in their area to ultimately licence.”

From 6 April 2010, local authorities have been able to adopt the relevant provisions allowing them to require operators of lap-dancing clubs and other sexual entertainment venues to obtain an SEV licence.

There was a transitional period of 12 months from the date on which the regime came into force in the local authority area.