Agenda and minutes

Announcement on procedural matters.

The Chair opened the meeting, introduced Committee Members and Officers in attendance, and outlined procedural matters of the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Hill, Johnson and White.

To receive any declarations of interest by members in items on the agenda.  For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest made.

Members and the public should indicate which item(s) they wish to speak on and the nature of their concern/question/request for clarification.

There were no members of the public or visiting Members registered to speak.

RESOLVED – That that the minutes of the previous meeting dated Tuesday 29 November 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Zoe Martin, Animal Licensing Officer presented the report as per the agenda.

Questions and discussion from Members and Officer clarification included:

                 i.          There had been some minor changes to the policy since the draft was completed and those were confirmed as:

                ii.          On page 3 of the policy, section 1.4 to the table there was the addition to the delegation to grant dangerous wild animal licences to the animal licensing officer and the addition of the clarification that any new or renewed renew licences under the 2018 regulations will be dedicated to the animal licensing officer.

               iii.          On page 8, section 4.2.1 there was a change to the numbering of 3.3.2 to 3.3.3.

              iv.          On page 9, section 5.4.4 there was a change to the numbering of 3.5.3 to 5.2.3.

                v.          On page 11 of the policy, section 7.4.5 there was a change to the wording with the addition of, in most circumstances, licensable activities must cease until such time as the renewal application has been granted.

              vi.          On page 13 of the policy, in section 7.7.1, there was the addition of the word fee, so it should read they pay a reduced fee for the subsequent activity.

             vii.          On page 18, section 11.1.7 was a change to the numbering of 7.3.4 to 8.3.4.

            viii.          Following consultation with other local authorities, Officers considered it appropriate for offences involving drugs to be included in section 5.3 of the policy. Members felt they were unsure of the inclusion of this and welcomed the consultation on the matter.

              ix.          It was advised that the policy was in line with other local authorities.

                x.          It was advised that if there were Government changes that did allow the Council some discretion, particularly at a local level, they would be brought before the Committee.

              xi.          A full explanation on the use of delegated authority was given.

             xii.          It was confirmed that if Members were minded to approve the recommendations in the report before them, it would go out to consultation on Monday 3 July 2023 and was due to come back before the Licensing Committee in September with a summary of proposed changes for final approval.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the draft Animal Licensing policy as drafted with amendments notified at the Committee meeting, be approved.

2.     That Officers to proceed with the consultation as noted.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

The next meeting of the Licensing Committee was scheduled for 12 September 2023.