The date has been set for a court case that could bring about a reversal of The City of Edinburgh Council’s controversial strip club ban.
The decision taken by councillors to impose a ‘nil cap’ on the number of lap dancing bars that can open in the city will be put under the microscope at the Court of Session.
A union representing strippers across the UK joined forces with three existing Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) in the capital and has successfully raised £20k to cover legal costs of the judicial review against the city council.
A judge confirmed that members of United Sex Workers (USW) will be able to take part in the hearing after the local authority attempted to stop the union from attending – and the review date was set for December 1 and 2.
The council has faced huge backlash since members of its regulatory committee voted in March to set the maximum number of SEVs in Edinburgh at zero when a new licensing scheme is launched next year, which will prevent the city’s four strip bars from operating legally and prevent any new venues from opening in future.
Despite this, applications for new venues will still be accepted and determined on a case-by-case basis by members of the licensing board.
At the hearing in December USW will argue that the nil-cap is indirect gender discrimination against women, and that it interferes with the right to respect for private and family life under the European Convention of Human Rights.
The union also warned it will put over 100 people working in the industry in Edinburgh out of a job.
And a councillor said the policy will only drive workers towards a dangerous unregulated market of backroom brothels and unlicensed strip clubs.
Cllr Lewis Younie passed a motion calling for a report on the potential consequences for those in the industry, which will be presented to elected members at a future meeting.
He said: “I wanted to have this decision revisited due to the serious deterioration in women’s safety that the Nil-Cap policy will lead to.
“Fundamentally, the closure of these venues will endanger people’s lives, encourage criminality, and reduce the choices available to workers.”
If successfully contested at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the council could be forced to reverse the ban and review the terms of the new licensing scheme before it takes effect from April 1, 2023.
A report to a meeting of the regulatory committee taking place on Thursday (September 29) has confirmed the cost of an SEV license, should the licensing board choose to grant one, will be £1,752.
A report stated: “These fees mirror the fees currently charged for licensed sex shops, which are also licensed under the provisions of Schedule 2 of the 1982 Act.
“These fees would be for a one year licence, as that is the maximum period permitted for a licence under Schedule 2.
“If approved, the fee structure will thereafter be reviewed on an annual basis in line with other licence categories, as part of the Council’s annual budget process.”
by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
