Consultation on the Licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs)
The Scottish Government has introduced legislation giving Councils a discretionary power to licence Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in their area.
A Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) is defined as any premises at which sexual entertainment is provided before a live audience, and the most common examples are lap dancing or strip clubs. However, the definition is wide enough to cover other premises where sexual entertainment is provided. Premises where sexual entertainment is provided on no more than 4 occasions in a twelve-month period are not to be treated as a sex entertainment venue e.g. premises that cater for the occasional stag or hen do.
Why are we consulting
Currently in Scotland SEVs don't require to be specifically licensed to provide sexual entertainment. However, throughout Scotland some of these premises are already licensed in terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 as they also sell alcohol.
Dumfries and Galloway Council needs to decide whether SEVs should be licensed throughout Dumfries and Galloway, and therefore seeks your views on this.
Have your say
From now until 7 April 2020, you are invited to complete a Survey Monkey questionnaire. If you require a hardcopy, please send your request to
licensingconsultation@dumgal.gov.uk or telephone 01387 245951
What we'll do with the results
The Council's Communities Committee will meet to consider the responses received to this consultation and make a decision as to whether SEVs should be licensed or not.
If the Council decides to license SEVs:
If following this consultation, the Council decides to license SEVs in Dumfries and Galloway, this resolution that is passed will come into force after 12 months at which point anyone who wishes to operate a SEV must apply for a licence.
During this 12-month period the Council will carry out a further consultation, draft and publish an SEV Policy Statement which will explain how it will carry out this licensing function and make decisions in its area. The second consultation will seek public views on the terms of that Policy Statement. This will deal with other questions such as localities, maximum number of premises and conditions to apply to licences.
If the Council decides not to license SEVs:
If the Council decides not to license SEVs, it is important to note that SEVs could still open and operate in Dumfries and Galloway but the Council would not be able to regulate them directly under the licensing regime.
Who to contact for further information
Please contact:
Licensing
Municipal Chambers
Buccleuch St
Dumfries
DG1 2AD
