Meeting documents

To consider the report attached as Appendix B

Contact Officer: Peter Seal 01296 585083

The Council were responsible for licensing a number of animal related businesses, including catteries, riding establishments, pet shops, businesses which involved the breeding of dogs, the keeping of ‘dangerous wild animals’ and zoos. The licensing authority were allowed to set fees for each based on the cost recovery of delivering the service when issuing licences.

Fees had not been reviewed for a number of years and had only risen in line with inflation, which had been negligible. The current fee list had been attached as an appendix to the report.

In recent years licensing services had increasingly sought the assistance of vets whilst carrying out inspections and had, in some cases, had to pick up the financial burden this incurred. Resources had also been committed to a small number of problem premises.

Licensing services had undertaken a review of fees for all animal related licenses, and the proposed fees had also been attached as an appendix to the report. Fee calculations had taken into account each stage of the licensing process, from receipt and processing to inspection and issue, including routine visits. The use of vets had been reduced wherever possible. However, in some cases the law required a veterinary inspection on initial application and occasionally on renewal. Where a  vet inspection was not required on renewal, the renewal fee reflected the reduction in cost to the Council. Dangerous Wild Animal and Zoo licences did not include vet fees, as their fees varied considerably dependent on the species and establishment. It was intended that the applicant pays the council’s fee and in addition pays the cost of the veterinary inspection.

All premises license holders had been consulted and their responses relating to the fees were also attached as an appendix to the report.

The most notable change related to riding establishments. The present fee varied dependent on the number of horses; £275 plus £15 per horse/pony.

It was proposed that new riding establishments be charged £495 (including vets fees) and renewals be £395 (including vets fees) regardless of the number of horses or ponies kept.

However, the representation from Horses Helping People demonstrated an inherent unfairness to small establishments. Currently 18 such establishments were licensed by the council and under the new fee structure 5 would pay more than they currently did.

It was proposed that the new fee structure be implemented from 1 January 2016 with the exception of those relating to riding establishments. Almost all animal related licenses started from 1 January and ended on 31 December with the exception of riding establishments which lasted for 12 months from the date of issue and Dangerous Wild Animal and Zoo licences. Given the concerns relating to riding establishments, it was proposed to look at an alternative fee structure for them and bring this back to committee at later date.

RESOLVED –

1.    That Members noted the review of fees relating to licences for animal related businesses and agreed the proposed fee structure as set out in the appendix to the report, with the exception of those fees relating to riding establishments; and

2.    That a further report regarding fees for riding establishments be brought back to committee at a later date.