Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive about The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and recommends a proposed fee structure for adoption by the Council.

Recommendation

That the Executive notes the new requirements relating to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and recommends to Council that the proposed fee structure be adopted.

56.1  Cllr Bolton advised the Executive that the Animal Welfare Act 2006 was introduced to ensure that animals are not mistreated, and is the enabling Act for the updated 2018 Regulations for Licensing of Activities Involving Animals. The Regulations came into effect on 1 October 2018, and replaced a number of previous licensing regimes in relation to animal establishments.

56.2  It was anticipated that most operators would be unlikely to have any significant difficulties in complying with the new requirements. Whilst inspections may initially take longer and in some cases be more frequent, premises of a higher standard would be visited less frequently. Officers would receive further training in order to enforce the new legislation.

56.3  A new fee structure was proposed to that would replace all existing fees and charges for animal licences.  The new fee structure was designed to recover the costs of administration, inspection and regulation of the new regime. Officers had worked with colleagues in other Surrey authorities to ensure consistency over the levels of fees charged.  

56.4  The Executive RESOLVED to note the new requirements relating to The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and

RECOMMEND to Council that the proposed fee structure be adopted.

[Reason: The new fee structure will recover costs of the Council carrying out its responsibilities under the new Regulations.]