Laws should be improved, but led by experts

IN his recent coulmn, the Police and Crime Commissioner has claimed that he wants to prevent violence against women, and has used this to justify his attacks on Cheltenham Borough Council for issuing a sexual entertainment venue licence for the March 2022 Gold Cup Festival week (View from the Bridge, November 25).

Unfortunately, not only has he failed to understand the legislation, but his silence on other far more serious issues, such as common law police disclosure, demonstrate contempt towards women’s safety.

Cheltenham Borough Council licenses these events because this allows the council to enforce 40 licensing conditions that protect the performers, customers and public.

The alternative is that the sexual entertainment uses a legal loophole, is at a different venue each night, and is regulated only by statute.

The council believes licensing to be the better option, which is why the committee of three women and two men unanimously voted to grant the licence.

The police are a statutory consultee to these applications.

They did not object, as there was no evidence linking either the venue or activity to any crime or disorder.

During the statutory consultation, the council received nine objections, but the PCC did not object.

The public might question why, if this issue is of such concern to him, he neither objected, nor attended the hearing, but instead decided to raise his concerns via the media, meaning they could not lawfully be considered.

The council has already asked the government to change the law, but in her response, the Minister, Victoria Atkins MP, said: “we have no immediate plans to amend the legislation surrounding the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues”.

She explained, “The intent of the legislation is to strike a balance between nuisance to the community and the reduction of onerous regulation being placed on small businesses.”

There is no doubt that the laws regulating sexual entertainment venue licensing could be improved, but any review should be guided by experienced professionals such as the Institute of Licensing and the Local Government Association, and not those with an ill-informed political agenda.

Councillor Dr David Willingham Chair, Cheltenham Borough Council

Licensing Committee