Agenda item - Animal Welfare Licensing Conditions Review

Agenda item

Animal Welfare Licensing Conditions Review

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which set out standard conditions for Animal Welfare Licenses that allows Authorities to attach conditions to licences to secure the welfare of animals. 

 

The Senior Licensing Practitioner, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) introduced the report and advised Members that a review of the standard conditions that were currently being attached to the various types of Animal Welfare Licences, had been undertaken to ensure licences were being issued in accordance with the most up to date guidance and best practice that had recently been issued.  It was further advised that this review was also being undertaken by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) across all of the districts with the aim of ensuring a consistent approach to standards across the County.  

 

Members were also advised that the Council would have the discretion to amend the standard conditions in individual cases by way of amending, omitting or adding conditions relevant to the type of licence, as appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case.  Such amendments would be considered on the recommendation of a veterinary practitioner or veterinary surgeon appointed, in accordance with relevant legislation, to inspect the premises the subject of the licence application. 

 

Members were asked to approve the standard conditions detailed in the Appendices to the report, that were proposed to be attached to the various types of licences that the Council is responsible for issuing, namely:

 

·                     Pet Shop Licences (Appendix 1)

·                     Dog Boarding Establishments (Boarding Kennels) (Appendix 2)

·                     Cat Boarding Establishments (Catteries) (Appendix 3)

·                     Dog Boarding Establishments (Home Boarding) (Appendix 4)

·                     Dog Boarding Establishments (“Dog Day Care” premises) (Appendix 5)

·                     Dangerous Wild Animal Licences (Appendix 6)

·                     Riding Establishment Licences (Appendix 7)

·                     Dog Breeding Establishment Licences (Appendix 8)

·                     Zoo Licences (Appendix 9)

 

The Committee was also asked to delegate authority to the Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services to amend the standard conditions as appropriate to each individual case, in accordance with the relevant legislation for each type of licence, in order that WRS has the flexibility to respond to  inspections by veterinary practitioners and surgeons.  

 

In response to queries as to what expert bodies had guidance been taken from for the proposed standard conditions, the Senior Licensing Practitioner assured Members that the wording for all of the proposed standard conditions had been taken from Guidance laid down for the various licences required.  The Guidance had been drawn up with input from expert bodies, including the Royal Institute, Environmental Health, various Animal Welfare organisations, veterinary practitioners, and veterinary surgeons.

 

Clarification was also provided on a number of other queries, including; age restrictions for purchasing animals from Pet Shops, cage sizes / floor areas for larger birds in pet shops; stocking densities in aviaries; escape of dangerous animals; dog breeding and overbreeding of bitches; guidance for marine and fresh water fish purchasers; micro-chipping of dogs being boarded; and PAT testing of electrical items used in establishments.

 

Officers attention was drawn to Appendix 2, in respect of Section B – Operational Management in regard to Disease Control and Vaccination where it was pointed out that a record of vaccination, required under B.4.2 (page 32), was not listed in Section C – Kennel Administration and Management in regard to the Register of Information required in C.3.1 (page 33) and queried whether this was an error as it appeared in other Appendices.  It was agreed that the requirement should also be included in the Register of Information.

 

The Senior Licensing Practitioner also provided clarification in respect of the length of licenses and renewal timelines for the various types of licences, namely:

 

·         Pet Shops / Animal Boarding – annually from 31st December to 31st December.

·         Dangerous Animals Licence – 2 years

·         Riding Establishment Licence – 1 year rolling

·         Dog Breeding Licences – annually

·         Zoo Licences – initial 4 years thereafter every 6 years.

 

Members were informed that any expired licences that were not renewed would be followed up.  It was also reported that the introduction of an automatic renewal process was in hand at the moment and that licence renewal notices for this forthcoming year would be going out earlier than usual. Officers confirmed that any outstanding renewals at the end of the year would be chased.

 

RESOLVED that

 

1.            The draft Standard Conditions detailed in Appendices 1 to 9 attached to the main report, be attached to future Licences issued by the Council under relevant Legislation;

 

2)         authority be delegated to the Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services to amend the agreed standard Conditions as appropriate in the circumstances of an individual case, by altering, omitting or adding conditions as recommended by a veterinary practitioner or veterinary surgeon appointed in accordance with the relevant legislation to inspect the premises, the subject of the licence application: and

 

3)         in regard to Appendix 2 Dog Boarding Establishments (Kennels), under Section C – Kennel Administration and Management, the Register of Information list, required to be kept as detailed at C.3.1., be amended to include “Record of Vaccination”.  

 

 

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