What arun district council does

Arun District Council is a statutory local government authority in West Sussex, England, delivering a wide range of mandated public services to an estimated 160,000+ residents across the Arun district, which includes the towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Its service portfolio spans council tax administration, housing allocation and management, planning and building control, waste and recycling collection, benefits administration, licensing, environmental health, community safety, leisure facilities, and electoral services. The council is governed by elected councillors and funded primarily through council tax, retained business rates, and central government grants, with additional income from housing rents, parking, planning/licensing fees, and a paid Lifeline telecare subscription service (from £21/month).

The council operates a hybrid service delivery model combining two physical offices (Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis Town Hall) with a multi-channel digital platform. Digital infrastructure includes a citizen-facing mobile app (iOS/Android on app stores), a self-service online portal for council tax, benefits, and planning, the Arun Homefinder housing portal, the MyArun tenant portal (Civica), a Citizen Access portal for revenues and benefits, and a Cadcorp public mapping service. Its commercial Lifeline product line includes a multi-SIM digital personal alarm unit, Pearl fall-detector and standard pendants, wireless smoke alarm integration, Mindme GPS locator devices, and police-accredited KeySafe installation, all monitored 24/7.

Revenue mechanics are diversified: Council Tax (property-based, bands A–I) and Business Rates provide the core tax base, supplemented by Revenue Support Grant and earmarked grants (notably a £20 million Pride in Place programme for Wick and Toddington). Recurring commercial revenue streams include housing rents, garden waste subscriptions, parking charges, and Lifeline telecare subscriptions, while transactional income is generated from planning/licensing fees and equipment sales. The council does not disclose consolidated revenue publicly.

Name

arun district council

Legal name

Arun District Council

Website

https://arun.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Arun District Council is a UK statutory local government authority serving 160,000+ residents in West Sussex, delivering housing, planning, waste, council tax, licensing, community safety, and telecare services through offices, a mobile app, and online portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Housing Programs (92511)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Waste management services
• Social housing services
• Telecare monitoring services
• Council tax administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Littlehampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Property-based local taxation collected from all residential properties in the district to fund local government services.
2. Business Rates: Levy on commercial properties and businesses operating within the district.
3. Government Grants and Funding: Central government funding including Revenue Support Grant, Business Rates retention, and specific grants for services such as the Pride in Place £20 million programme for Wick and Toddington.
4. Lifeline Telecare Service Charges: Monthly subscription service starting from £21 per month for personal alarm and telecare services, with short-term rental option at £32 for up to 6 weeks, and additional equipment charges.
5. Planning and Licensing Fees: Fees charged for planning applications, building regulations, alcohol and entertainment licensing, taxi licensing, animal licensing, food premises registration, and other regulatory services.
6. Housing Rents: Rental income from council-owned housing stock.
7. Parking Charges: Fees from on-street parking permits, car park charges, and enforcement.
8. Waste and Environmental Services: Garden waste subscription service and potentially other waste-related charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arun District Council is a UK local government authority delivering statutory public services to approximately 160,000+ residents and businesses across the Arun district of West Sussex. Core services include council tax administration, social housing allocation and management, waste and recycling collection, planning and building control, licensing, benefits administration, leisure facilities, community safety, and parking enforcement. The council also operates the Arun Lifeline telecare service offering 24/7 monitored personal alarms and GPS tracking devices for vulnerable residents.

Product overview

Arun District Council provides digital services to residents through a combination of a public website (arun.gov.uk) and specialized platforms. The main consumer-facing digital products include the Arun District Council Mobile App for iOS and Android, which provides on-the-go access to council services including bin collection reminders, issue reporting, and local information. The Lifeline telecare service offers personal alarm and safety products for vulnerable residents, including the Digital base unit with roaming SIMs, Pearl pendants, fall detectors, smoke alarms, and GPS tracking devices for dementia patients. Additional platforms include Arun Homefinder for housing applications, the Citizen Access portal for benefits and council tax, the MyArun tenant portal for council tenants, a Planning Application Search tool, and a public Cadcorp mapping service. The council also maintains social media presence on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arun District Council Mobile App Free mobile application for residents to view recycling and waste collection days, sign up for personalised reminders, receive operational change notifications, report issues (missed bin collections, fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour), search bin information, find local places of interest (car parks, leisure centres, public toilets), look up food hygiene ratings, read news stories, and access councillor details.
• Arun Lifeline Telecare Service (Digital Unit) Monitored digital personal alarm service for vulnerable residents featuring a base unit with two roaming SIMs for connectivity resilience (unaffected by the UK digital telephone switchover), covering the home and garden. Monthly subscription starts from £21 per month after a free trial, with free installation, free maintenance, and a free additional pendant for a partner.
• Arun Homefinder Housing Portal Online housing portal enabling residents to search and apply for council housing and other affordable housing options within the Arun district. Operated as the gateway for social housing allocation.
• Citizen Access Portal Online portal enabling residents to manage Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims, view council tax accounts, report changes in circumstances, and submit required information to the council.
• MyArun Tenant Portal Online portal for council tenants to view rent balances, make rent payments, and manage their tenancies. Powered by Civica CX platform.
• Planning Application Search Online search tool enabling the public to find and view planning applications within the Arun district, including access to application documents through an integrated document viewer.
• Cadcorp Public Mapping Service Interactive web mapping service providing public access to view locations of council offices, strategic development sites, and other geographic information across the Arun district.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free 3-month leisure membership for Ukrainian refugees provided through partnership with local leisure centres
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Sussex PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatutory partner in the Safer Arun Partnership (SAP), the local Community Safety Partnership. Sussex Police provides law enforcement, neighbourhood policing, and community safety resources. Joint initiatives include Op Precinct (Barnham) and Op Parkside (train network) operations targeting youth ASB and crime.
• West Sussex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpper-tier local authority partner providing adult social care, children's services, education, highways, and waste disposal. Co-delivers services including community safety, safeguarding, and refugee resettlement including Ukrainian refugee support.
• NHS Sussex Partnership Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services provider operating the Sussex Mental Healthline (0800 0309 500) and assessment/treatment services. Co-delivers mental health support through the Lifeline telecare referral pathway.
• Probation ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment probation provider working within the Safer Arun Partnership to reduce reoffending and support community rehabilitation.
• Police and Crime Commissioner OfficesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees Sussex Police budget and strategy, provides funding for community safety initiatives including the Safer Arun Partnership.
• Freedom LeisurecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal leisure operator managing Arun Leisure Centre, Bersted Park Community Centre, Littlehampton Wave, and The Windmill Entertainment Centre on behalf of the council. Provides free 3-month memberships for Ukrainian refugees.
• Community and Voluntary GroupssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local community organisations for clean-up events, biodiversity projects, community orchards, and neighbourhood planning.
• Arun and Chichester Citizens AdvicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free confidential advice on benefits, housing, employment, debt, immigration and asylum. Referenced for Ukrainian refugee support and cost of living assistance.
• Arun Flood ForumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership addressing flooding risks across the district through information sharing, emergency planning, and flood mitigation initiatives.
• Town and Parish CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 31 local councils across the district providing grassroots local governance, community facilities, and service delivery at local level.
• RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeach lifeguard service patrolling district beaches since 2001. In first year alone helped save 20 lives.
• West Sussex Fire and Rescue ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint working on Lifeline telecare alarm monitoring and community safety initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Eastbourne Borough Council: Larger coastal South East district council with comparable demographic profile and statutory service mix. Useful comparator for telecare service scaling and coastal flooding preparedness given similar geography.
• Wealden District Council: Larger East Sussex district council delivering comparable housing, planning, and waste services. Useful for peer comparison on housing allocation platform design and environmental programme execution.

Direct peers

• Worthing Borough Council: Neighbouring West Sussex coastal local authority operating under a joint administration with Adur. Comparable in delivering council tax, housing, waste, planning, and community safety services to a coastal population of similar scale.
• Chichester District Council: Adjacent West Sussex district council of comparable size serving Chichester and surrounding areas. Closest geographic peer with overlapping statutory services (housing, planning, waste, council tax) and shared partnership ecosystem including Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice.
• Adur District Council: West Sussex district council operating in joint management with Worthing. Statutory peer across housing, planning, council tax, and waste collection for a smaller but demographically similar coastal population.
• Horsham District Council: Another West Sussex district council of similar rural-urban mix delivering the same statutory services. Useful peer for benchmarking digital service delivery and housing programme execution within the same county framework.
• Mid Sussex District Council: West Sussex district council providing directly comparable statutory local authority functions to a population of similar scale, enabling peer benchmarking on planning throughput and council tax collection rates.

Others

• West Sussex County Council: Upper-tier authority that partners with Arun on adult social care, highways, children's services, and waste disposal. Strategic co-delivery partner rather than competitor, but central to Arun's service delivery economics.

Regional players

• Folkestone and Hythe District Council: Kent coastal district council with overlapping regeneration and community safety priorities. Useful regional peer for Pride in Place-style regeneration programme design and delivery.
• Havant Borough Council: Neighbouring Hampshire coastal borough with similar coastal demographic and service scope. Comparable peer for lifeguard/beach safety partnerships and coastal infrastructure planning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArunDistrict
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbT8_JswP59H6vJhj8QS4ug
• Facebookfacebook.com/arundistrictcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arun-district-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/arundistrict.council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about arun district council