South Lakeland District Council Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy

South Lakeland District Council adopted Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 from 1st January 1984. This allows the authority to licence sex shops and sex cinemas as sex establishments. Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 has now amended schedule 3 of the above Act. On 25th January 2011 Licensing Committee recommended that full Council adopts these powers on 22nd February 2011. South Lakeland District Council as the local authority can adopt these additional powers to regulate lap dancing clubs and similar venues applications in the area.

 The amendment introduces a new category of sex establishment called ‘sexual entertainment venues’, which if adopted by a local authority, will require premises, which provide ‘relevant entertainment’, such as lap dancing, to obtain a sex establishment licence. 

 The purpose of the new legislation is to empower local communities where there are concerns about sexual entertainment venues opening in their neighbourhoods.  Under the new regime, local people will be able to oppose applications on wider grounds than is currently allowed under the Licensing Act 2003. 

 View the Policy on Sexual Entertainment Venues

Phone: 0845 050 4434    (Fax: 01539 740300)

email: licensing@southlakeland.gov.uk

Post: Public Health & Licensing Group, Community Services     Directorate, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal LA9 4UD