19. The consultation process

Local authorities are required to conduct a full consultation when considering the implementation of an additional licensing scheme. This must be for a minimum of 10 weeks. The council’s consultation is running over a 10-week period from 12 June to 20 August 2023.

The consultation will use a variety of methods to try to reach and engage with as many people as possible and especially those that might be affected by the proposal, although limitations created by timeframe, budget and available ways of sharing information have to be taken into account in the overall approach.

We are using our website to detail the proposals, provide information and host the consultation document. The consultation is being advertised in local media and via social media posts to advise that the consultation is happening and how to participate.

Paper copies of the consultation document and posters showing details of the proposed scheme are available to view at the following locations during opening hours:

  • Arun Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton BN17 5LF
  • Bognor Regis Town Hall, Clarence Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1LD

The Arun Civic Centre and Bognor Regis Town Hall are open at the following times: 

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9am to 4pm
  • Wednesday at 11am to 4pm
  • Closed on bank holidays

Please note if you wish to read the consultation document or complete the online survey at these two locations you should arrive no later than 3pm to ensure you have enough time to look at the document/information boards and to complete the survey.

Paper copies of the consultation document are also available to view at the following libraries (please select the library below to view their individual opening hours):

Students enrolled at the University of Chichester can view the consultation document at the University’s Accommodation Office at The University of Chichester, Bognor Regis Campus, Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1HR.

You can also complete our online survey to give feedback on the proposals.

For those who are unable to complete the survey online please contact us to see how we might be able to help you to complete the survey.

Any meetings, exhibitions, presentations, forums and consultations will be advertised the Additional HMO licensing consultation 2023 webpage. 

Individual responses will not be provided; however, the results of the consultation feedback and analysis of the results will be published on our website. This will ultimately assist in the council’s considerations in deciding whether to implement the scheme. An e-mail notifying that the results have been published will be sent to those that respond to the online survey and provide their contact details.

Please see our consultation survey privacy notice. The privacy policies for the council, private sector housing and public health can also be viewed on our privacy policy page under the  departmental privacy policies section.

A wide portfolio of stakeholders and other people who might be affected by the proposal, as well as internal stakeholders and departments have been contacted regarding the consultation, including ward members, councillors at both district and parish level, local MPs, landlords/property owners in the proposed ward areas and in neighbouring ward areas, tenants in the proposed ward areas, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS), Sussex Police, letting and managing agents, the University of Chichester and Bognor Regis College, landlords on the Chichester and Arun Landlord Accreditation Scheme, landlord representatives such as the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), local resident associations, Citizens Advice, West Sussex County Council (WSCC), neighbouring local authorities and the general public.