Agenda item

To consider a report on the review of standard licence conditions to attach to various types of licences issued by the Council under relevant legislation for animal welfare licences.

The Committee considered a report which sought the approval of standard conditions to be attached to future licences issued by the Council under legislation aimed at securing the welfare of animals.  The report also sought delegated authority to the Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) to amend the standard conditions, as appropriate, in certain circumstances as detailed in the report.

The Senior Licensing Practitioner (SLP) presented the report and in doing so highlighted the relevant legislation under which Redditch Borough Council was responsible for issuing licences, as detailed at paragraph 3.4 of the report. 

The review of the standard conditions was being undertaken by WRS on behalf of all the district councils across the county with a view to ensuring consistency of standards, with Bromsgrove District Council having so far approved the conditions.  

The delegated authority sought was to allow the Head of WRS to amend the proposed standard conditions where variations were recommended in individual cases by either a veterinary practitioner or veterinary surgeon in accordance with the relevant legislation.

The SLP responded to various Member questions on individual conditions.  Members queried why there were no cat breeding conditions included in the report.  The SLP responded that, at present, there was no legislation relating to cat breeding.  However, the Welfare of Cats Bill had been introduced as a Private Members Bill to the House of Lords in July 2014 and it would be interesting to see whether this ultimately received sufficient support to become law.

RESOLVED that

1)            the draft standard conditions attached at Appendices 1 to 9 to the report, to be attached to future licences issued by the Council under relevant legislation, be approved; and

2)            authority be delegated to the Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services to amend the 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 subject to the licence application.