Agenda item

This report proposes the introduction of a new Animal Welfare Licensing Policy and a 4-week consultation period with the public, existing animal welfare licence holders and  partner agencies. 

The Licensing Team Leader presented the report.

This policy covered the licensable activity of Animal Welfare.  It set out the principles the Council will use when dealing with animal related licensing matters.  The purpose of animal licensing was to protect animals and ensure their health and wellbeing, those using the licensed facility as well as providing protection for the public within the terms of the relevant Acts and legislative Guidance.

There was no statutory requirement for a local authority to adopt an Animal Welfare Policy.  However, the adoption of an Animal Welfare Policy would give clarity to the public, partner agencies and applicants.  It also provided a framework for Officers and Members to enable consistent decision making and transparency.  The Policy covers the areas of animal boarding establishment licences, horse-riding established licenses, pet shop licences, dangerous wild animal licences, dog breeding establishments and keeping or training for exhibition licences and zoo-keeping licences.

There is a government proposal to require that primates are kept at zoo-level standards. Whilst within the current Animal Welfare legislation it is an offence to keep primates and not provide for their welfare needs or to cause them unnecessary suffering, if the legislation is enacted the keeping primates as pets would be banned as supported within the Policy.

Members raised the following points during discussion:

·       The report was welcomed as an addition to the Council’s regulatory process.

·       How was the consultation to be undertaken?

·       Would all parish and Town Councils be contacted for their feedback as part of the consultation?

·       How would the policy be enforced, was it the role of the Council to enforce the legislation?  What resources had the Council established to support this?

·       Were Market and Fair Traders to be included within the consultation, with reference to the selling of animals as prizes?

·       Was there a specific, different licence for travelling circus animals?

·       Did the Deepings Pet Refuge require a licence under this policy?

·       Could first tier tribunal system be explained in further detail?

The Licensing Team Leader informed Members of the Committee that the Team would primarily use social media and emails.  Survey Monkey would also be available and in paper form for those who did not have access to the internet.  Parish and Town Councils would be contacted for their feedback alongside anticipated consultees, including Lincolnshire Police, Fire and Rescue, Highways, Town Councils, the public, current licence holders and departments within South Kesteven District Council.  The Officer confirmed that Market and Fair-Traders could be considered too. 

It was confirmed that the Council did not issue licences for travelling circuses.  However, it was confirmed that the Deepings Pet Refuge was subject to a licence under the policy.

A Member asked for written clarification on which authority issued travelling circus licences.

ACTION:

The Licensing Team Leader was to circulate an email to Members of the Committee confirming what authority issued licences for travelling circuses.

The Officer continued that the Licensing Team had already issued the licences.  There were two Licensing Officers that went out to inspect and also to react to reports received.  The policy would bring this work together under a framework.  The tribunal system comprised of the first tier and the upper tier.  The first tier heard appeals from citizens against decisions made by government departments or agencies as a civil matter.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED:

That Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the draft South Kesteven District Council Animal Welfare Policy and agreed it, with the following amendment as the basis for a four-week public consultation:

a)    The five needs of animal welfare be inserted within the policy prior to the five additional principles.