Issue - meetings

Purpose of the Report

To seek Executive approval of the revised Animal Policy.

Decision

That implementation of the revised Animal Policy be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None were considered.

Reasons for the Decision

The Council had many and varied roles and functions that relate either directly or indirectly to animals.

The Animals Policy had a major review in 2017 which brought together a number of our functions into one collective policy. The policy in 2017 was drafted by experts, consulted on with specialists, third sector and industry bodies.

There had not been any significant changes to the revised policy (contained at Appendix A), with the exception of a change to the licensing of activities involving animals which affects pet shops, Dog and cat boarding, home boarding of dogs and dog day care, horse riding establishments and performing animals.

The policy focused on upholding the welfare of animals and ensuring high standards, which the Council had a long-held tradition of upholding, in relation to the welfare of animals in its local area, both through our service delivery and our policy position were maintained.

The purpose of this was to embed the relevance of the welfare statement, provide consistency across our services and present a cohesive position externally.

This had been considered by the Policy Scrutiny Committee and an extract of the minutes was appended to the report.