Legal loophole allows sexual entertainment

I NOTE with interest MP Alex

Chalk’s suggestion that Cheltenham could ‘ban’ sexual entertainment venues. As a long-serving member of the Borough Council’s Licensing Committee, I have some experience of dealing with this matter.

Whether one’s opinion is that such practices should happen here, or anywhere else, there is a difficulty with Alex Chalk’s approach. As a KC, he’s aware of this.

Sadly, he chooses to heap blame on local public servants rather than acting to achieve the change he claims to seek.

The legislative position he and his government support enables sexual entertainment to take place, regardless of whether any council (Cheltenham or elsewhere) grants a licence. This is because there’s a loophole in the law.

This loophole was identified by the Borough Council and has been acknowledged by then Home Office Minister, Victoria Atkins, in letters of response to the Borough Council.

The Government clearly doesn’t intend to amend the law. Mr Chalk himself is aware of his Government’s position, because it has been established in answers to questions in parliament.

As the Justice Secretary and

Lord Chancellor, he is in an almost unrivalled position to bring about a ban on lap dancing, not just in Cheltenham, but across the whole of the UK, should he wish. As far as we are aware, he has not attempted to do so. But even if he doesn’t want to, readers concerned about SEV licensing in Cheltenham may want to reflect on his effectiveness as a local representative.

In more than eight years as Cheltenham’s MP, he has never formally objected to a sexual entertainment application made to the Council, nor has he contacted the Council’s Licensing department to ask for local SEV policy to be amended.

How could a local authority seek to address the apparent concerns of its local MP in such a scenario? Should licensing officers try to guess the detail of Mr Chalk’s position on his Government’s legal framework, based on correspondence to third parties, or some inaccurate statements in the media?

As a KC, Mr Chalk will know that would not be satisfactory. It’s disappointing that on this issue, like so many others, his actions do not match his words.

If our MP wants to ban sexual entertainment, he ought to use his position as one of the country’s most powerful men to amend legislation and enable the ban he apparently supports. Until he does that, his objections to sexual entertainment will be futile.

Cllr Angie Boyes Councillor for Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire