Public’s view on sexual entertainment venues sought

District councillors from all parties have unanimously voted in favour of asking residents in the area how the granting of licences to such venues should be regulated.

The move comes following the recent granting of such licences - which allow for entertainment such as lap dancing, pole dancing and private dancing - to Leamington clubs Shades and Amara.

At a full meeting of the council at Leamington town hall on Wednesday, Labour councillor Alan Wilkinson (Leamington Brunswick) proposed the motion to consult with the public on the issue. He said: “We, as councillors, owe it to ourselves to take a step back and look again at these issues with fresh eyes and open eyes.

“I believe that sexual entertainment venues have no place within our boundaries. I am asking for consultation with the relevant parties on this.

“I believe that the people if Warwick district can be trusted to give us guidance on this.”

Liberal Democrat councillors had put forward an alternative motion of outlining a policy on the granting and regulating of sexual entertainment licences so that people had a document on which they could comment. But the motion, when put to vote, was defeated.

And the Conservative members on the council decided to withdraw their alternative proposal to ask officials to first provide a report on the matter before any consulation with the public took place.

Council leader Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) said: “I don’t intend to put the amendment forward because Cllr Wilkinson has agreed that we should ask our officers to compile a report, taking into account the ongoing judicial review.

“I support Cllr Wilkinson on the basis that we go back to our officers, asking them for guidance on the form and legal effects of the consultation.”

Speaking after the meeting, Jonathan Chilvers, Green Party campaigner for south Leamington, said: “I am delighted that councillors across the political spectrum have chosen to back this call for the consultation on the nil cap. This will give the public a say, which they have been crying out for on this issue.”