Council agrees to change rules on sex establishments

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Latest news in Yorkshire: Published March 20, 2019 12:40:47 PM

Residents, businesses and community leaders have given their
overwhelming backing to the rules around sex establishments in the
borough being tightened.

A consultation which went out earlier this year asked people to say what
areas of Rotherham they thought were not suitable for sex
establishments, like strip and lap dancing clubs and sex shops, to
operate.

The Council also consulted on introducing regulations to ensure those
working in such premises were treated fairly.

The consultation showed high level public support with over
three-quarters of the 422 responses strongly agreeing that the rules
needed to be tougher. And this week Cabinet agreed to start the process
to tighten up the rules in which they operate. This is expected to see
the Council adopt schedule three of the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1982, meaning more types of venue would require
specialised licences and would not simply be licensed under the same
rules as bars and nightclubs.

Councillor Emma Hoddinott, Cabinet member for Waste, Roads and Community
Safety and Chair of the Safer Rotherham Partnership said: “It is clear
from the responses that the public believe these types of venues and
establishments have no place in Rotherham.

“There has been strong public feedback to tighter regulate sex
establishments like lap dancing and strip clubs, and we have now started
the process to do that.”

The laws around these sorts of clubs have tightened up nationally in
recent years, following the introduction of the Police and Crime Act
2009, including establishments having to apply for licences on an annual
basis.

The Cabinet has recommended that Full Council agrees to further
regulation of the strip clubs and, if approved by all Councillors at the
meeting, a policy will follow as a result. That could mean that future
applications being refused in certain inappropriate locations, including
near schools, places of worship, women’s refuges, play areas and family
leisure facilities like theatres.

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[tags sex business, massage, rotherham]