Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to a report which informed them of the recent changes to Animal Welfare legislation, namely the “Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) Regulations 2018” which were implemented on 1st October 2018.

Members were informed that the new system included a new set of national mandatory conditions set by Parliament and introduced a more rigorous and robust scheme which would, in most cases, involve a more thorough and mid-term inspection during the licence period. These Regulations introduced a new structure for local authorities to use for the different areas of licensed activities as listed below:

·         Selling animals as pets

·         Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding cats or dogs

·         Hiring out horses

·         Breeding dogs

·         Keeping or training animals for exhibition

All existing establishments would need to apply for a new license and inspections would be much more extensive. A key part of these new licences would be a new “star rating” system (out of five) for licensed activities involving animals. This rated relevant businesses, on welfare and other grounds, and helped consumers choose the best provider, as well as enabling local authorities to better regulate the poor rated through increased inspections. It was also anticipated that the rating system would prove motivation to providers to improve their rating.

Members sought and received clarification/commented on the

following point:

·         How would the policy be policed – largely by reports from the pubic and vets. Officers would monitor websites where pets were offered for sale and would be proactive in identifying and contacting breeders.

RESOLVED that the policy be agreed.