The Director of Place provided members with an update on the report and explained that the restrictions were two-fold and split by the Licensing and Planning restrictions. He advised that the Housing & Customer Services Working Group had completed their review of the licensing restrictions and that what was being suggested to the Committee was that they should utilise the same research that was being undertaken by the Licensing team.

          Early in the debate the cost of the research was queried to ensure that value for money was achieved given that the report suggested the problem was a fairly small one. It was explained that the cost associated with the researched would be difficult to establish prior to the research being completed, the Planning Service and Private Sector had utilised as much information they could up to this point. The report sets out £30,000 and it was confirmed that costs were not currently expected to be more than that, however this could change. Members were reminded at this point that is was the view of Full Council that matters needed to be investigated further with decisions to be presented at Full Council in January 2021 for further discussion.

          Concern was also raised in relation to the time that Officers would be able to commit to the work that needed to be done in light of ongoing workload. It was confirmed that whilst the focus currently was on reviewing the Local Plan that would present a challenge, however that was also a good reason to consider a Consultant to help complete the research. If further requests come forward, then the priority would be to complete core business.

          It was also raised that the report was asking to look at Bognor Regis only and to keep Littlehampton under review and would it not be more cost effective to review both areas at the same time. It was confirmed that currently the data that had been reviewed had suggested that the work is likely to be centred around the Bognor Regis area. However, if further research showed that Littlehampton was also needed then this would be done.

Concerns regarding people being housed in clusters had demonstrated problems in specific areas and would the research completed be a further opportunity to address these issues that were ongoing. If the research was undertaken it was explained that it would be able to provide additional information that would help with this concern moving forward.

          The Committee

RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL that;

The Council undertake further research with Housing Services in order to establish evidence to determine the justification and role for designating Article 4 Direction(s) in Bognor Regis as a priority and to keep the matter under review for Littlehampton, unless the work also confirms that there is sufficient justification to bring a further Article 4 Direction(s) forward at the same time.