SEX shops in York look set to be bound by “more robust” regulations following the council’s Executive meeting next week.

Following consultation with the public, North Yorkshire Police and tourism groups, City of York Council has drawn up new licensing regulations for sex establishments.

York Press:

A report before the Executive said the number of sex shops had decreased in York in recent years, but lapdancing clubs often sought to extend their hours. The new rules will see the city’s sex shop and lapdancing clubs implement increased training for staff at licensed premises, all advertising approved by the council, and all establishments to be located within a defined area of the city and during specified hours.

While North Yorkshire Police have welcomed the more detailed licensing plan, Make It York said the organisation was “keen to discourage as much as possible the development of such establishments”.

In a response to consultation, they said York faced “an ongoing battle of antisocial behaviour and sex establishments are not conducive to the family friendly atmosphere that Make It York and many other organisations are trying to create and promote”.

The Executive is also set to decide on whether to sell the freehold to an historic York building - netting the council more than £430,000 - and recommend withdrawal of its transport for social care users to save more than £180,000 in the next three years.

Members of City of York Council’s Executive will next week consider a recommendation to sell the freehold of 29 Castlegate - where the Connexions youth service is currently based - to the York Conservation Trust and York Civic Trust.

Following the proposed sale, the groups intend to improve accessibility to the site and neighbouring Fairfax House, and a report submitted to the Executive said the sale would “obtain a substantial capital receipt and also considerable social value in enabling disabled access to and the development of an improved leisure and historic attraction”.

The Executive is also set to recommend a new approach to the way social care transport is offered to adults around the city, in an effort to save £183,000 by 2020.

In a report, the council is recommended to approve a direct payment scheme to users of the transport, allowing them to make their own transport arrangements, rather than rely on council-run buses or services.

The council said this personal approach would ensure “transportation is flexible, accessible and tailored to the needs of individuals and communities”, as the council’s fleet closes by March 2020.

Council chairman David Carr and fellow councillors will be asked to approve the changes to transport, and a support officer will be appointed for the first 18 months of the scheme to help users organise their own personal transport plans.

Martin Farran, corporate director for health, housing and adult social care said: “With an ageing fleet we need to look at the options available to deliver an efficient and sustainable transport service for our customers.

“This report looks at options to give social care customers more choice and control over their transport, in lines with the principles of the 2014 care act, so they can take more ownership of their requirements.”

The council claims the recommended scheme would “equip customers with the confidence to take ownership of their requirements”, and offer them “more choice and control over their transport arrangements”.

The meeting of the Executive will take place on Thursday, April 27.