SOUTH Ayrshire residents are to have a say on whether sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) should be licensed.

A public consultation is set to take place, after new legislation from the Scottish Government handed over discretionary power for local authorities to licence SEVs.

Under new proposals, South Ayrshire Council have been tasked to gather evidence to see how the public, workers and businesses would feel about venues being granted a licence.

Currently, there is no obligation for any licensed venue to require permission for sexual entertainment, but with new powers SAC would have the right to enforce or revoke a licence, should a venue propose to host a sexual entertainment event.

As well as a public consultation, SAC will also seek the views of various interested parties including SEV operators, Elected Members,Community Councils, Adult Protection Committee, Child Protection Committee, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS employees in SEVs and Violence Against Women.

The consultation will assess the effect these venues could have on local communities, including public nuisance, crime and disorder, public safety, protecting children and young people from harm and violence against women.

And the public response will help council chiefs weigh up whether there is a basis to grant licenses for SEVs in South Ayrshire, and if so, the appropriate number of SEVs in the local area.

Councillor Philip Saxton told the Advertiser that the consultation will give the general public and the trade to “voice their opinion” on licensing SEVs.

He said: “At present licensed premises do not require to apply for a separate licence if they currently hold a entertainments licence.”

“Due to all local authorities in Scotland being given the right to licence establishments who wish to hold events of a sexual nature , it was agreed that this should go out to consultation, this would allow the Trade and the general public the opportunity to voice their opinion prior to the Council making a decision.”