This week Arun District Council met to discuss planning applications and licensing.

The Standards Committee met on Tuesday 25 June 2024. There is no video available for this meeting. The Licensing Sub-Committee also met on Tuesday 25 June 2024 to determine an application for a new premises licence. The meeting considered an application for Gondals, a new shop at 127 High Street, Littlehampton. The shop will sell hot food for consumption off the premises.

The Licensing Sub-Committee exists to make decisions about licensing applications on behalf of the council. This is because licensing decisions can sometimes be contentious, and it is important to ensure that decisions are taken in a fair and transparent way, and that all sides of the argument are properly considered. Involving a dedicated sub-committee is one way of ensuring that this happens. The sub-committee's decisions can be challenged, but only by way of judicial review at the High Court. This is a very high bar, and is only likely to be successful if the Sub-Committee has acted unlawfully.

The application attracted two objections from members of the public, and the Sussex Police also raised concerns, because the shop is located within the Littlehampton Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ).

The premises is located within the Littlehampton Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). The introduction of further licensed premises within the CIZ gives rise to a presumption that the application will be refused unless it can be demonstrated that the premises will not add to the cumulative impact.

Extract from 'Report of the Environmental Health Manager', Item 4.0, Public reports pack 25th-Jun-2024 14.30 Licensing Sub-Committee

The Police withdrew their objection after the applicant's agent, Mr Alan Eatly, agreed to a number of additional conditions. The Sub-Committee then resolved to grant the licence.

The Corporate Support Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday 27 June 2024 was cancelled. The Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for Friday 28 June 2024 was also cancelled.