Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer read out the procedure.

RESOLVED that a Vice-Chair was not required on this occasion.

Apologies were received from Councillors Gerry Curran, Andrew Furse, Roger Symonds and Chris Watt. Councillor Ian Gilchrist substituted for Councillor Andrew Furse and Councillor Tim Warren substituted for Councillor Chris Watt.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There were none.

Members stood in silence for one minute to show their respect for the late Councillor Gabriel Batt, a Member of the Committee and of the Licensing Sub-Committee, who had died the previous week. They sent their condolences to his family.

The Chair announced that this would be the last meeting of the Committee to be attended by Andrew Jones, Team Manager Environmental Monitoring and Licensing, before his retirement. Members thanked him for his many years of service to the Council and wished him well in his retirement.

There were none.

These were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Team Manager Environmental Monitoring and Licensing presented the report. He explained that under the provisions of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 such establishments required a licence issued by the Council to which the Council could attach conditions. There were 19 animal boarding establishments within B&NES. The Council had a set of standard licence conditions, which had been adopted over 10 years ago. In 2013 the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health together with the Pet Care Trade Association and a number of other associations had issued model conditions for cat and dog boarding establishments. It was proposed that the Council replace its existing standard conditions with these new conditions.

Councillor Webber said that he was opposed to attempts to micromanage the activities of practical people, suggesting that the main incentive for those running animal boarding establishments to treat the animals in their care well was their desire to stay in business. He thought that the Council’s current standard conditions were adequate and that the new model conditions were unduly detailed and lengthy.

Councillor Anketell-Jones said while he had some sympathy for the views expressed by Councillor Webber, he thought that the new model conditions offered excellent detailed guidance on how to run a boarding establishment, an activity for which no formal qualifications were required. He was happy to support the recommendation on that basis.

Councillor Beath spoke in favour of the proposal, saying that animal welfare should be promoted.

Councillor Clarke thought that the new regulations would offer the Council greater protection from potential claims by pet owners and would allow less opportunity for establishment owners to find loopholes.

Councillor Rigby said while she had sympathy with the views expressed by Councillor Webber, she believed that the new conditions would give a model of best practice to establishment owners and therefore she would support their adoption.

Councillor Clarke asked about feedback to the Council from establishment owners about the new model conditions. The Team Manager Environmental Monitoring and Licensing  said that there had been none; the model conditions had been extensively discussed between the originating bodies and the trade, and establishment owners had ample opportunity for input.

It was moved by Councillor Warren and seconded by Councillor Chalker and RESOLVED with 7 votes in favour and 1 against that the Council adopt the model conditions provided in Annex B and Annex C of the report and attach the conditions to all new and renewed Animal Boarding Establishment licences issued by the Council.

The Team Manager Environmental Monitoring and Licensing presented the report. He explained that proprietors of pet shops required a licence from the Council under the provisions of the Pet Animals Act 1951. The Council had the power to attach conditions to such a licence. The Council had a set of standard conditions for these licences, which had been adopted over 10 years ago. In 2013 the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health together with a number of other associations had issued model conditions for pet vending licensing. It was proposed that the Council replace its existing set of standard conditions with the new model conditions. He informed Members that there were 7 pet vending establishments in B&NES.

Councillor Webber said that he was quite happy with the new model conditions, which were short and to the point and provided an example of how regulations of this kind could be drafted. He moved that they be adopted. This was seconded by Councillor Warren.

Councillor Anketell-Jones said that he was concerned at the lack of consistent standards of care in pet shops. There was also often doubt about where animals offered for sale had originated; the model regulations addressed this issue. He would support the recommendation.

Councillors Beath and Rigby spoke in support of the recommendation.

RESOLVED unanimously that the Council adopt the model conditions provided in Annex B of this report and attach the conditions to all new and renewed pet shop licences issued by the Council.