Cllr Theobald feels exposed over nudity

There was spirited debate at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers Morning Advertiser-sponsored away-day in Brighton last week.

Councillor Geoffrey Theo-bald, who chairs Brighton's entertainment committee, insisted that it was the police, not the local authority, who were asking for the imposition of one of the country's largest, if not the largest, cumulative impact areas in the city, effectively a block on new pubs.

It encompasses vast swathes of central Brighton and seems to head halfway to Lewes. The local authority is taking advice from leading counsel on the chances of success.

Addressing a trade audience, though, Theobald was in emollient mood, admitting that noise complaints about pubs had dropped in the past year, there was less violent crime and things were "working pretty well" in the wake of licensing reform.

"I'm quite a vertical drinker myself - I prefer to drink my beer standing up," he said, before adding, helpfully: "I'm very happy to sit down as well." It was clear that the issue that exercised Theobald most was the rise of the full-nudity lap-dancing club in Brighton. Spearmint Rhino had successfully won the right to go beyond Brighton's topless-only policy after an appeal to magistrates.

Brighton City Council was powerless to block the move because it was impossible to prove that nudity would undermine any licensing objectives. An idea to promote a Private Member's Bill to achieve an enhancement of the council's power seemed like a non-starter.

As a final resort, Theobald has written to a higher power for advice - Sir Simon Milton, leader of Westminster City Council, an early pioneer of the cumulative impact area. Life seems very circular sometimes.