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Issue - meetings
Update on Animal Licensing Activities
Meeting: 27/11/2019 - Licensing Committee (Item 18)
18 Update on Animal Licensing Activities PDF 142 KB
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1- Animal Activity Licences Issued, item 18 PDF 402 KB
- Appendix 2- Animal Activity Star ratings, item 18 PDF 450 KB
- Appendix 3- Proposed fees for Animal Licensing Activities, item 18 PDF 164 KB
Minutes:
The Community Protection Manager presented an update on the first year of the new licensing regime for Animal Licensing Activities.
It was noted that:-
·
There had been a 55% increase in the number of
licences issued for businesses being regulated. This was set to rise to 82% as there were another
9 businesses known to the Community Protection Team that had or
would be making an application in the next six months.
·
Animal welfare standards had improved with
establishments being star rated, 50% of which had been awarded 5
stars, with a creditable 86% achieving a star rating of 3 or
above.
·
The fees reflect an increase of the amount of work
that has had to be carried out with the businesses, in particular
providing advice and the inspections taking longer due to the forms
having to be used from DEFRA.
·
The cost for the licences was comparable to other
districts in Kent.
·
Pre-application advice was being proposed but this
would be for the future once the new scheme was fully bedded
in.
In response to questions from Members, the Community Protection Manager advised that:-
·
An email would be circulated after the meeting from
Officers on whether the requirement for a dog to be vaccinated
against kennel cough was advisory or mandatory.
·
There had not been any prosecutions at present for
illegal businesses but there were a number of alleged breaches
being investigated.
·
Priority was currently being given to registering
those who had approached the Council to register.
·
The team would encourage members of the public to
inform them of any illegal businesses and would speak to the
Communications Team to highlight the service and have an article in
the Borough Insight magazine.
·
If a dog had puppies and the income from the sale of
those puppies was more than £1,000 then the breeder would
need a licence.
·
The Community Protection Manager would circulate a
link to where Members would be able to view the animal
establishments who are licensed for those activities.
·
Animal Rescue Centres were exempt from the new
Animal Regulations.
RESOLVED: That
1)
The update on the implementation of the changes in
regulations for animal related activities introduced in October
2018 be noted.
2) Option 2, to introduce a revised fee structure from 1st April 2020, be approved as detailed in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.3 of the report.