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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Kieran Pantry-Melsom
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Items
No. Item

14/18

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2018 as an accurate record.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2018 were agreed as an accurate record.

 

15/18

Disclosure of Interests

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

 

Minutes:

Councillor O’Connell declared that he was the local chair for the RSPCA Committee of Caterham, Kenley and Purley.

16/18

Urgent Business (if any)

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

 

 

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

17/18

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 - Setting of Licence Fees pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Manager was invited by the Chair to present the report to the Committee. The Licensing Manager explained the purpose of the report and the history of animal welfare licensing in the Borough and the reasons for the changes in Animal Welfare licensing introduced by the Regulations. The new regulations came into force on 1 October 2018 under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

 

The Licensing manager then addressed Members on the proposed recommendations as set out in Section 1 of the Report. By specific reference to Appendix 1, the Licensing Manager explained, as set out in the report, the rationale for the manner in which the proposed fees had been calculated and the basis of those proposed fees. A number of permutations were explained as well, including where unannounced visits were required, when a veterinary surgeon was required to attend an inspection of a premises and when an animal welfare officer could undertake the visit. Members were also referred to Appendix 2 which set out, in table form, the proposed fees for Members’ consideration.

 

Current animal welfare licenses expire on 31 December 2018 and the proposed new fees, if agreed by Members, would apply to any renewals and new licenses under the Animal Welfare Regulations 2018.

 

The Committee also heard that a Star Rating System would be implemented for issuing licences and determining the length of time a licence could be held. This created an incentive for premises to have high quality standards because a high rating would enable the Council to grant them a licence for a longer period of time than a low rating would.

 

Members were advised of the contractual relationship between the Council and the City of London Corporation Veterinary Service for the provision of certain animal welfare related services so that inspections required under the regulations would be carried out by their qualified animal health inspectors or veterinary surgeons depending on the nature of the animal welfare licensable activities under consideration.

 

The Chair invited members’ questions on the report and presentation.

 

The Committee heard that premises currently licensed under the old Animal Welfare legislation were paying fees under the licences they held, however the proposed fees in the report would be an increase on those former fees. It was noted that those operators who achieve the highest star rating because of their compliance with higher animal welfare standards will be paying the same fee for a three year licence as those with a lower star rating may be paying for a one or two year licence and it was hoped that this would prove an incentive to achieve higher animal welfare standards.

 

A request was made by the Committee for periodical updates on activity relating to the new Regulations, specifically with regard to the number of appeals that may be lodged. The Licensing Manager advised that information would be provided to committee as requested.

 

Councillor Niroshan Sirisena arrived at the meeting at 6.52pm, extended his apologies for lateness due to issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17/18

18/18

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

 

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”

 

Minutes:

This was not required.