Shake-up planned for concessions in Bognor Regis

A thorough review of Arun District Council's process of handling the deals with operators is under way.

It will affect how they are chosen for locations along the seafront which are popular spots, especially for refreshment kiosks, and in Hotham Park.

The decision to launch the process was made behind closed doors by Arun's audit committee.

It follows strong criticism the council received in May after the Observer revealed it had awarded the concession for the popular seafront land train to an operator without a train.

The move was reversed a month later and a senior councillor admitted a mistake had been made with the original decision.

Bognor Regis Civic Society deputy chairman Hugh Coster welcomed the possibility of changes.

He said: "What we'd like to see is total transparency, impartiality and fairness in the council's dealing with concessionaires and potential concessionaires."

The committee's special meeting was held in private recently at Bognor Regis Town Hall.

But the minutes record the council's chief executive, Ian Sumnall, saying 'it was vital to learn from the mistakes' that had been identified in an investigation into awarding of the land train contract.

The committee made recommendations for the review being conducted by Colin Rogers, the council's services director. His review will be reported in private in late autumn, after his departure from the council, to Arun's environment working party.