Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to a report of the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager which asked Members to approve an amendment to the Council’s Animal Welfare Licensing Policy.

The Committee was informed that the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018) had brought about new legislation, guidance and a tougher and wider licensing regime for commercial businesses involved with animals in the course of their business.

Since October 2018 around fifty licences had been in force within the Borough

of Oldham covering regimes including:

·         Sale of pets

·         Hiring out Horses

·         Commercial boarding of Dogs and Cats

·         Animal Exhibitions

·         Breeding of Dogs

·         Home boarding of dogs

The above Regulations set out a system of regulation and enforcement which

had been incorporated into local policy together with an inspection regime. Alongside that came a need to provide a range of business documents and practices.

The policy also dealt with applications made under different legislation which

covered:

·         Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976

·         Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Members asked for and received clarification of the following:-

·         Protection for a consumer if they bought a pet that was ill – there was already some consumer protection and the government was looking to regulate the import of animals, especially in relation to rabies and existing illness. People were already advised to exercise caution in buying their pet.

·         Zoo licence for petting farms – they were classed as requiring and animal exhibition licence as there were no dangerous animals. They were inspected every 18 months and licensed for 3 years.

·         Dangerous wild animal licence – none in Oldham.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The report be noted.

2.    The policy amendment as outlined in the report be approved.