Issue - meetings

The New Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018

Meeting: 26/09/2018 - General Purposes and Licensing Committee (Item 45)

45 CHANGES TO ANIMAL LICENSING LEGISLATION - REVIEW OF FEES AND CONDITIONS pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were informed that on 1 October 2018 a new statutory instrument (2018 No.486) would come into force, the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. The new legislation introduced an updated licensing framework in England for five activities involving animals - selling animals as pets, providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats of dogs, hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition. The introduction of the legislation highlighted the need to revise both current procedures and the fee structure.

Guidance on the fee structure was still awaited from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), but the legislation was clear that licenses should be charged on a full cost recovery basis. This would result in large increases for many small businesses.  

The Committee was concerned that the regulations would potentially apply to a range of very low key activities, such as equestrian sports men and women, people who took pets into schools or old peoples’ homes or those who rescued wild animals.  

(During consideration of this report Councillor Tony Owen declared an interest as he used a local cattery, and Councillor Neil Reddin declared an interest as he had a client whose business could be affected.)

RESOLVED that

(1) The changes required by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and the associated conditions, be noted.

(2) It is agreed that the current fee structure be retained until such time that the new fees can be reviewed and set in accordance with the guidance provided by Defra.

(3) Authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Community Services for the administration of the Council’s power to grant or renew a licence for a licensable activity under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (selling animals as pets, providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs, hiring out horses, breeding dogs or keeping or training animals for exhibition.)