Issue - meetings

The Cabinet had considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 on proposed fees for animal activities licensing.

The Cabinet noted that full cost recovery when licensing certain animal activities was allowed by Regulations.

This was intended to promote the welfare of animals, via a new licensing system, and would be applied to persons selling animals as pets, providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs, day care for dogs, hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition.

The Regulations did not cover all of those animals protected under the animal welfare act.

Frequency of inspection was the same if it was deemed there was low or high risk as per the statutory requirements. However more inspections could be carried out if there was a high risk.

The fees would be reviewed on a three year basis to ensure that any profits or deficits were adjusted accordingly.

The Committee had clarified that “the minimum requirement of animal welfare” meant the “basic legal requirements”.

It was moved and seconded by Councillors F.Thomson and T.Kingsbury and

RESOLVED:

That the fees and charges, as listed in Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) to the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 for licensing certain animal activities as recommended by the Committee and approved by the Cabinet, be adopted so that the budget book could be adjusted accordingly.

Recommendation from the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 on proposed fees for animal activities licensing.

The fees and charges listed in Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) to the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 for licensing certain animal activities were approved, as recommended by the Committee, for recommendation to the Council for adoption so that the budget book could be adjusted accordingly.

Recommendation from the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 on proposed fees for animal activities licensing.

(1)         The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

That the fees and charges listed in Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) to the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2019 for licensing certain animal activities be approved, as recommended by the Committee, for recommendation to the Council for adoption so that the budget book could be adjusted accordingly.

(2)         Reasons for the Decision

Full cost recovery when licensing certain animal activities was allowed by Regulations.

This was intended to promote the welfare of animals, via a new licensing system, and would be applied to persons selling animals as pets, providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs, day care for dogs, hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition.

The Act did not cover all of those animals protected under the animal welfare act.

Frequency of inspection was the same if it was deemed there was low or high risk as per the statutory requirements. However more inspections could be carried out if there was a high risk.

The fees would be reviewed on a three year basis to ensure that any profits or deficits were adjusted accordingly.

The Committee had clarified that “the minimum requirement of animal welfare” meant “the basic legal requirements.”

The report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) which updates Members regarding national changes to animal welfare licensing and seeks the recommendation of Members that the proposed fees are sent to Cabinet for approval so that the budget book can be adjusted.

The report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) updated Members regarding national changes to animal welfare licensing.

The Statutory Instrument number 486 / 2018 entitled “The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018” was made on 16 April 2018 and came into force on 1 October 2018, and allows for full cost recovery when licensing certain animal activities.

The intention of the Instrument was to promote the welfare of animals, via a new licensing system, and would apply to persons selling animals as pets, providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs, day care for dogs, hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition. The fees would be reviewed on a three year basis to ensure that any profits or deficits are adjusted accordingly.

A short discussion following where the following points were raised by Members and clarified by the Officer:

·         The minimum requirement of animal welfare referred to in the report meant the basic legal requirements.

·         The frequency of inspection was the same if it was deemed there was low or high risk m as per the statutory requirements. However more inspections could be carried out if there was a high risk.

The type of animals covered by the law related to those in care such as boarding but also breeding, pet shops, hiring of horses and exhibiting of animals. The Act did not cover all of those animals protected under the animal welfare act.

RESOLVED:

That Members note the report and recommend that the fees and charges listed in Appendix A were sent to Cabinet for consideration for recommendation to Full Council so that the budget book could be adjusted accordingly.