Verbal Update - Implementation of Animal Activity Licensing Regulations
Minutes:
Members would be aware that the Government had published the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The regulations came into effect on 1st October, 2018 and introduced a new licensing regime to replace the licensing and registration regimes currently in place.
The Senior Licensing Practitioner, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) gave a verbal update on the implementation of Animal Activity Licensing Regulations.
Members were informed that all businesses had been contacted in writing and been advised that they needed to apply for a licence under the new regulations by 31st December, 2018.
In respect of the current licence holders, around 173 licence applications were anticipated across the County and to date 20 licence applications had been received from businesses in Bromsgrove. A vast number of businesses were still operating under the previous licence. Members were informed that this was due to further amendments made to the document and that all licence holders had to have an inspection prior to the licence being issued and as well as being star rated.
Members were advised that recruitment for an additional licensing officer was ongoing and that current officers were working extremely hard to process the applications. In addition, vets were also helping out with the inspections.
With regards to the backlog and without prejudice, businesses would be given authority to operate under the old licence pending determination of their application under the revised regime. It was anticipated that all businesses would be issued a new licence by the 1st April, 2019.
Members were further informed that there was an appeal process to the First-tier Tribunal if any licence was not granted.
The Senior Licensing Practitioner, WRS, concluded his update and advised Members if they had any enquiries from businesses in relation to the licence, to contact the Licensing Office for further assistant.