LAP-dancing clubs in Bournemouth could face tighter controls after licensing chiefs backed new government proposals to re-classify them as “sexual entertainment venues”.

The borough’s licensing board yesterday considered a report by principal licensing officer Steve Wright outlining legislation aimed at giving local residents a greater say on where lap-dancing clubs are opened.

Clubs currently operate under the Licensing Act 2003 which gives limited powers to local authorities to control the establishment of lap-dancing premises or impose conditions on their licence.

However, the licensing board resolved to adopt section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 which will enable members to impose extra conditions on opening hours, advertising and how the premises look to passers-by. If the council decides an establishment is inappropriate for a particular area, it can refuse to grant or renew a licence.

After the meeting, Mr Wright said: “The board decided to adopt the provisions. This is just stage one. We now have to go through a process of drafting a policy. Then we will consult local residents and existing operators.

“The vast majority of lap dancing clubs and similar venues will require both a sexual entertainment venue licence and a premises licence or club premises certificate for the sale of alcohol and other types of entertainment.”

He added: “The objective is to give local communities a greater say over the establishment and location of lap-dancing clubs in their area and local authorities more scope to reject applications for lap-dancing clubs or impose conditions on licences if it is deemed such measures are necessary.

“Local people will be able to make written representations on an application for a lap-dancing club on the grounds that it would be inappropriate, given the character of the area, or if it would be located in an area that is primarily residential.”

The council will decide how many lap-dancing clubs will operate in the borough and operators will have to renew their licence every year.