Coventry council to ban sex clubs

[dutchman]

Sex clubs will be banned from Coventry as part of a new zero tolerance crackdown by the city council.

But the city’s only licensed lap dancing bar will still be allowed to stay open.

Council officers are to recommend councillors at next month’s cabinet and council meetings vote for a “nil policy” – meaning no new ‘sexual entertainment venues’ will be allowed to open.

But the new policy would not be taken into account when Club Heat, in the city centre, applies to renew its licence in future.

That could disappoint women campaigners who wanted the venue shut down.

It follows widespread public consultation on the issue.

A council officer’s report states: “The majority of respondents agreed that there is no locality in Coventry of which it can be said that sexual entertainment venues are appropriate.

“These considerations have led the council to the clear opinion that there are no localities in Coventry in which it is appropriate to license a sexual entertainment venue.

“This does not prevent individuals from applying for a sexual entertainment venue licence and each application being considered on its merits by the licensing and regulatory committee.”

Referring to the Heat club, in the City Arcade – which brands itself as ‘Coventry’s only gentlemen’s club’ – the report states: “The council recognises that there is an established sexual entertainment venue which has traded in the city for a long period of time without significant concern.”

It goes on to states any application by Heat to renew its recently obtained 10-year licence, or change its licence, “will be judged on its own merits and without reference to the nil policy.”

A 12-week public consultation called by Phil Townshend, cabinet member for community safety and equalities, attracted more than 500 responses.

Council officers say 53 per cent of people strongly agreed Coventry should have a nil policy, while 30 per cent disagreed, believing there should be some provision for sexual entertainment. The rest had no strong view.

Objections included on moral grounds of “exploitation” of women and “contributing to a culture in which women are viewed as objects available for the sexual gratification of men”.

Others said they felt “uncomfortable” walking past Heat club when it was open, or with young children during the day.

Opposing arguments were that people should have the right to choose to visit sexual entertainment venues, and that Heat added to Coventry’s night-time economy.

Despite concerns about sexual harassment and violence resulting from such venues, police said Heat had not contributed to crime and disorder in the area.

A nil policy would replace the current interim policy of allowing up to two venues in the city centre.

Those calling for a zero sexual entertainment venue policy include Dianne Whitfield of CRASAC, the Coventry-based charity for victims of rape and sexual abuse.

She argues research shows such venues are unsafe, and provoke male patterns of behaviour around the vicinity which contribute to women feeling unsafe.

John Barrett, owner of Heat club, has said his club does not exploit women, his dancers are happy, and the club has nothing to do with the sex industry.

[dutchman]

Ban on sex clubs in Coventry backed by city cabinet

COVENTRY council’s cabinet has unanimously backed banning sex clubs throughout the city in a new zero-tolerance crackdown.

But Coventry’s only licensed lap-dancing bar will be exempt from the new policy.

Coventry City Council’s cabinet of ruling Labour councillors approved the policy yesterday and it is now expected to be rubberstamped at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Conservative leader Kevin Foster also gave his backing to the proposals, although he said his minority group of 11 of the council’s 54 councillors will have a free vote on the issue at next week’s meeting – enabling each individual Tory councillor to vote freely outside of party expectations.

The policy means no new sexual entertainment venues will be allowed to open.

But it would not be taken into account when Club Heat, in the city centre, applies to renew its licence in future.

It was felt it had operated without any significant concerns for years.

Deputy Tory leader John Blundell questioned whether, with a licence being awarded to the venue rather than the operator, whether any new operator in future could continue to operate a lap-dancing club there. Council officers confirmed that would be the case.

Some campaigners including women’s groups wanted the venue shut down.

Coun Phil Townshend, cabinet member for community safety and equalities, told the cabinet a public consultation had attracted more than 500 responses.

He said: “The majority of respondents agreed that there was no locality in which it can be said that sexual entertainment venues are appropriate.”

He also urged the cabinet to accept the recommendations of the council’s scrutiny committee which examined the proposals. It called for training for councillors on the licencing committee to enable them to be aware of how to properly enact the nil policy.

Council officers say 53 per cent of people strongly agreed Coventry should have a nil policy, while 30 per cent disagreed, believing there should be some provision. The rest had no strong view.

Grounds for objection included the “exploitation” of women and contributing to a culture in which women are viewed as sexual objects.

Opponents argue people should have the right to choose to visit such venues, and that Heat added to Coventry’s night-time economy.

The nil policy would replace the current interim policy of allowing up to two venues in the city centre.

[rebbonk]

It's certainly not representative, but sadly, it is what passes for democracy.