Planning Permission
It is advisable to contact your local planning office before you start any work or open your business to ensure that you have the necessary permissions and you are not breaching any conditions on your property.
Building Control Regulations
If you need to make alterations to your building or additional construction work is required you may need Building Regulations consent. These regulations set standards on the safety, sustainability and stability of any building work. Please visit the East Sussex Building Control website.
Signage for your business
The display of all outdoor signage is governed by the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements England) Regulations 2007. These regulations concern size, lighting, height, and fixing. Much of the Rother area is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, some of which falls within a designated conservation area which can restrict the erection of exterior signage.
It is advisable to seek the advice of the Council’s planning office before commissioning signs for your premises to clarify what permissions you may require. Write to the planning department at Rother District Council, Town Hall, Bexhill on Sea. TN39 3JX, include information on the address of property, size, and position of sign and details of illumination if appropriate.
Alternatively, you can telephone the Customer Help Point on 01424 787000, if staff are not able to assist you your enquiry will be passed to a planning colleague.
You can also visit our Conservation website pages.
Caravan Site Licensing
There are over 100 touring, static and permanent sites in Rother, which are inspected primarily for fire safety, hygiene and electrical safety. The Council is also responsible for evicting illegal encampments from Council owned land.
If you require more information on Caravan site licenses please contact us, or visit our Caravan and Camping site licences page.
Business Rates
For more information on business rates, please visit our Business Rates page. Alternatively, you can find more information on GOV.UK – Business Rates.
Health and Safety
As the person with control over the premises, you have responsibility for the physical safety of anyone who comes on to your premises. Rother District Council’s Health and Safety service exists to protect the safety and wellbeing of those at work and all those who visit workplaces (contractors customers etc). Health and safety within the Rother district may either be enforced by the Council or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who are based at East Grinstead and Ashford.
All premises will be regularly and routinely inspected, based on a risk rating scheme and the interval may vary between once a year to every 10 years.
You may also wish to contact the Health and Safety Executive for further information:
Website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/
Phone: 0845 3450055
Email: hse.infoline@natbrit.com
Food Hygiene
All food businesses are routinely and regularly inspected by Rother District Council based on a risk assessment of the premises made at the time of inspection. The interval may vary between 6 months for a ‘High Risk’ premises to every 3 years for a ‘Low Risk’ premises. In addition to inspections samples are taken regularly to check that foods are free from harmful bacteria. Complaints are also investigated and advice given to food business owners
Fire Regulations
For further information on how to comply with fire safety legislation, please visit the GOV.UK Website.
Disability Discrimination Act (Disability and Equality Act 2010)
The Disability Discrimination Act has mostly been replaced by the Equality Act 2010, however the DDA still applies to all businesses providing a service to the public regardless of size. The legislation ensures that all businesses provide reasonable access to visitors with disabilities.
For more information visit Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
Visit England have published a selection of resources to help make your business accessible.
Access visits are also available from the Hastings and Rother Disability Forum, see Advice and Support for further information.
Data Protection
If you process personal data you must comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. All public and private organisations are legally obliged to protect any personal information they hold, and may be required to notify with the Information Commissioners Office.
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent authority who upholds information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. The ICO website provides detailed information on what is expected of you as a business and how you can notify the ICO if appropriate.
Website: https://ico.org.uk/
Phone: 0303 1231113
Email: notification@ico.gsi.gov.uk
TV Licences
Accommodation providers must be covered by a valid TV license if staff or guests are watching or recording television programmes as they are aired on TV. The ‘Hotels, hostels, mobile units and campsites license’ covers all types of visitor accommodation. One license covers 15 units/rooms.
For more information, please visit the TV Licensing Website.
Music/Radio Licence
If your customers, visitors or employees are listening to copyright music on your premises, by law you must ensure you hold the necessary permission.
The PRS for Music issue music licenses for businesses.
Website: https://www.prsformusic.com/
Phone: 0800 0684828
