WIRRAL Council has laid out a list of rules governing how sexual entertainment venues are run and how many can open.

Councillors have been told there is no statutory requirement for a sex licensing policy, but that having one will help in the case of legal challenges against decisions over venues.

It comes after a controversial strip club won its appeal to stay open, when a government inspector found it to “positively contribute” to Birkenhead town centre.

Peachez Gentlemen’s Club was refused permission to continue operations earlier this year, but was allowed to stay open following an appeal, with the planning inspectorate ruling Wirral council had made “vague and generalised assertions” about the venue.

At a meeting of the licensing, health and safety and general purposes committee on September 19, members will be asked to approve the definition of such venues, as well as approve rules laid out over who can open them.

The definition will apply to venues where lap dancing, pole dancing, table dancing, strip shows, peep shows and live sex shows take place.

The new rules mean applicants wanting to open a venue must publish an advert in a local newspaper and send a copy to the chief officer of police, and that any “vexatious” objections against them will not be considered.

In the list of more than 60 rules about how the venues are run, it included how door staff are managed records are kept, how CCTV is operated and information stored, and how performers are treated.

Full nudity is only permitted in “approved VIP areas”, it said, adding: “In all other public areas within the premises the performers and employees must at all times wear at least a G string (female) and or pouch (male) covering the genitalia.”

It also said customers must remain fully clothed at all times, and “remain seated for the duration of the performance”.

During table dances, performers “must not part their legs, sit or straddle the customer”, and must not approach them closer than 30cm.

The document also laid out the reasons for why an application may be refused by the committee, with guidelines similar to licensing and planning rules already in force.

They included if the number of sex venues in the area is already too high, as well as if the operator is “honest” and “qualified by experience to run the type of sex establishment in question”.

All licences will be granted for one year.

According to the report, a consultation was carried out with interested parties including Merseyside Police and sex entertainment licence holders. The force said they had “no specific comments” about the policy, but requested they be consulted about specific applications.

Existing and future “potential holders” of sex establishment licences were also contacted during the consultation.