SEX entertainment venues will come under closer scrutiny in the Chiltern District after new powers were brought in.

The new Sex Establishment Licence, which will come into force next year, will allow Chiltern District Council to have greater powers to control venues providing striptease or lap dancing shows.

The authority agreed to bring in the new powers at its meeting of the full council earlier this month, to enable it to limit crime and disorder at venues, ensure public safety, prevent public nuisance and protect children from harm.

The new Act gives the council greater power to refuse a licence request - allowing them to refuse an application on the grounds it is not wanted in a particular area or is inappropriate for a certain location.

Cllr Nigel Shepherd, Chairman of the Licensing and Regulation Committee, said: “The adoption of the legislation gives the Council greater control over premises that wish to provide sexual entertainment and more importantly, greater powers to decide where such premises should or should not be located. This will no doubt provide more protection to the residents of Chiltern.”

No sexual entertainment venues currently exist in the district and the council says there have been no initial indications that any applications will be for a Sex Establishment Licence.