Agenda item

Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 - Proposed New Standard Conditions for Day Care Boarding Establishments for Dogs

Report of the Chief Licensing Officer

Minutes:

5.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report informing Members of proposed new conditions for day care boarding establishments for dogs under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 and for the proposed conditions to be approved.

 

 

5.2

Present at the meeting for this item were Jane Greatorex and Tom Greatorex, Interested Parties; Nick Chaplin, Environmental Protection Manager; Shaun Bell, Animal Control Officer; Louise Slater, Solicitor to the Committee, Carolyn Forster, Legal Services; Shimla Rani, Principal Licensing Officer and Jennie Skiba, Democratic Services.

 

 

5.3

Jane Greatorex outlined her concerns to the Committee with regard to some of the proposed conditions and referred to similar dog boarding facilities in other cities.  She informed Members of the plans she and her son had for setting up a “dog day crèche” and felt that there were too many conditions to be attached to licenses which would result in licence holders being unable to operate a viable business.  One of the conditions causing the greatest concern was the “shared exercise areas shall be sufficient to allow at least 100ft2 of space per dog”.  She felt that this was too restrictive and that the business they were hoping to start would be safer in the long run for dogs rather than existing “dog walker” businesses.

 

 

5.4

Nick Chaplin stated that there were no common standards for day care boarding establishments but in securing the objectives outlined in the report, each licence would be granted subject to compliance of standard conditions which are proposed to be in the best interests of animal welfare and to improve kennel management.  He said that Animal Health Officers had consulted with and visited licensed establishments within other local authorities and had also held discussions with other operators, the outcome of which was that the conditions were derived in a generic manner so that they could be used across the city and promote consistency.

 

 

5.5

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

 

 

5.6

The Solicitor to the Committee reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects relating to this issue.

 

 

5.7

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees.

 

 

5.8

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

 

 

 

(a)

notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments and representations now made and the responses to the questions raised; and

 

 

 

 

(b)

approves the conditions for day care boarding establishments for dogs, as outlined in the report and requests that the conditions be reviewed in two years’ time to see if any changes needed to be made.

 

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