Agenda and minutes
PDF 68 KBVenue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter. View directions
Contact: Mark Devin, Democratic Services Officer (Committees) Telephone 01392 265477 or email mark.devin@exeter.gov.uk
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To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2019.
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2019 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.
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Declarations of Interest Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting. Minutes: No declarations of interest were made by Members.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1976 |
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Update to the Animal Licensing Policy To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report which considered the updated Animal Licensing Policy. He informed Members that, following the changes made by the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), a revised policy had been developed, which updated the existing Animal Licensing Policy, which had been approved by the Licensing Committee on 31 October 2017. The original policy had been developed following a consultation process with DEFRA in 2015, and had earned Exeter City Council a silver award from the RSPCA in October 2018.
Exeter City Council licensed a variety of animal establishments across the city, which included pet shops, riding schools and animal breeding establishments and that inspections would be undertaken by Licensing Officers with approved vets. Members were given an overview on the proposed changes to the Animal Licensing Policy, which included:-
· Conditions for animal boarding, dog breeding, riding establishments, dangerous wild animal and pet shop establishments; · Additional conditions for dog day care establishments and the keeping of animals for training or exhibitions; · The introduction of a scoring and risk matrix for grading establishments, to determine the length of licences from one to three years; · The introduction of a minimum standard to a higher standard for establishments.
In response to questions from Members, the Principal Licensing Officer explained that:-
· Following national guidance, a public consultation had not been required, which had been also agreed by the Exeter City Council Legal team.
· Licensed establishments would be graded under the new regulations for minimum standards and that no licence would be given to an establishment that fell under this requirement. Some establishments may seek to attain a higher standard, to support their business. In these circumstances, further inspections would be required, but at no extra cost to the business.
RECOMMENDED that the updated Animal Licensing Policy be approved and Executive and Council be requested to adopt the Policy.
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