The Arun District Council Licensing Committee met on 12 September 2025, and agreed to recommend the adoption of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy to the Full Council. The committee also reviewed key performance indicators for the first quarter of 2025-2026, and noted the work programme for the coming year.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

Statement of Licensing Policy

The committee considered a revised Statement of Licensing Policy¹ and agreed to recommend its adoption to the Full Council. The Licensing Act 2003 requires the council to publish a licensing policy, which must be reviewed every five years. The last revision was in 2020.

The main proposed changes to the policy, on which the council consulted, were:

• Suggesting participation in the Ask for Angela² safety scheme (or similar) for staff in licensed premises.
• Stating that multiple temporary event notices (TENs) should not be used on separate parts of a premises, or adjacent premises, at the same time where the cumulative number of patrons would exceed 499, to avoid applying for a premises licence for a single large event.
• Clarifying the position on personal data regarding people making representations or objections to applications, stating that their names and addresses will be given to the licence applicant, unless there is a genuine fear of intimidation.
• Expanding the description and examples of cumulative impact areas³.
• Suggesting closing times for licensed premises operating near residential premises, to reduce public nuisance from noise. It suggests that for licensing premises close to residential areas, closing times for outside areas should be 10.30pm to reduce noise impact.

The draft policy, with proposed changes in red font, was published for consultation between 11 and 27 August 2025, along with a questionnaire to seek feedback on the main changes. The council promoted the consultation via social media and brought it to the attention of responsible authorities, Arun District Council councillors, and the town and parish councils. The consultation responses are included in Appendix 2 Consultation Responses.

Key Performance Indicators

The committee received an update on the Quarter 1 performance for the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025.

According to the KPI report, one KPI is reported to this committee:

• CP14: % of licence applications determined within the various statutory or service time limits

The report noted that the service was achieving an outturn of 95% against a target of 90%.

Work Programme

The committee was required to note the Work Programme for 2025/26. The work programme lists the following items for future consideration:

• CCTV in Taxis Policy Update
• Renewal of the Arun Gambling Policy Statement
• Taxi Fare Setting

The Environmental Health Team Manager advised that the CCTV in taxis report had been delayed due to staffing resources but would be brought to the Committee during 2025. The officer work would include work to understand the position concerning other councils to get a consistent approach across Sussex.

Licensing Sub-Committee Decisions

The committee were asked to note the minutes from the meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 24 February 2025, 24 March 2025, 16 May 2025 and 25 July 2025.

Fox Inn, Arundel Road, Patching, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3UJ

On 24 February 2025, the Licensing Sub-Committee convened to review the premises licence for The Fox Inn following an application from Environmental Health. The review was initiated because the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance and crime and disorder were believed to have been undermined.

The committee heard representations from the Licensing Officer, the Responsible Authority for Environmental Health, the Premises Licence Holder, and their representative. Key issues raised included previous enforcement action regarding noise nuisance, a breach of planning regulations related to a marquee, and concerns about noise levels and potential disturbances.

The Sub-Committee resolved to revoke the licence.

Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver Licence

On 24 March 2025, the Licensing Sub-Committee convened to review a hackney carriage/private hire driver licence. The driver had obtained recent convictions and not declared them.

The Sub-Committee resolved to:

1. Issue a written warning that the hackney carriage/private hire licence holder may have their licence revoked if they appear before the Licensing Sub-Committee within the next 12 months.
2. Add 6 penalty points that expire on 23 March 2026.

Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Dual Driver Licence

On 16 May 2025, the Licensing Sub-Committee convened to review a hackney carriage/private hire driver licence. The private hire driver had accumulated more than 12 penalty points on the Licensing Authority's points system, including a speeding conviction, a complaint from a member of the public, and driving his hackney carriage vehicle with his Arun District Council license plate covered up.

The Sub-Committee resolved to:

1. Issue a written warning that he may have his licence revoked if he appears before the Sub-Committee within the next 12 months.
2. Carry over 3 penalty points from the current 12 points and add 6 penalty points, making a total of 9 penalty points that would expire on 15 May 2026.

Silver News Vape and Tobacco, 13 The Arcade, Bognor Regis, PO21 1LH

On 25 July 2025, the Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider an application for a new premises licence for Silver News Vape and Tobacco. The applicant, Mr Tajmet Singh, was seeking a licence to offer the licensable activity of supply/sale of alcohol for OFF sales , Monday to Saturday from 8.00 am to 18.00 hours and 09.00 to 1800 hours on Sunday.

The committee heard representations from the Licensing Officer, West Sussex Trading Standards, Sussex Police Licensing, and the applicant. West Sussex Trading Standards objected to the application, believing that the licensing objectives would be seriously undermined. Sussex Police initially confirmed no objections, subject to new conditions being added to the licence, but later withdrew their support.

The Sub-Committee resolved to refuse the licence, citing concerns about the applicant's ability to operate in a manner consistent with the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder, the protection of children from harm, and the prevention of public nuisance.