Issue - meetings

That the report be noted.

The Team Manager, Licensing, explained that the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 had been replaced within Wales by the (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014 which came into force on 30 April 2015.  Any person wishing to breed dogs in Wales must obtain a licence from their local authority in compliance with the new regulations and relevant licence conditions which were outlined in the report.

The report had been submitted to Cabinet on 17 November 2015 where the following was agreed:

·         Delegation of powers under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) Regulations 2014 be given to the Community Protection Team Leader – Licensing, and to the licensing team

·         Adoption of a suite of conditions approved by the All Wales Technical Panel for Animal Health and Welfare

·         Delegation of further decisions in relation to conditions to the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) with approval by the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Leisure Services and Waste Strategy; and

·         Delegation of the adoption of the fee level be given to the Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) with approval by the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Leisure Services and Waste Strategy

The proposed licence fee would reflect appropriately any additional anticipated and actual costs and would enable the function to be fully cost neutral.

Councillor Cox asked if inspections of premises took place before a licence was issued.  The Team Leader, Licensing, explained that this did take place and the first inspection of a premises was undertaken by the licensing team and a vet.  The Team Leader also clarified that the applicant paid for the presence of the vet.

            In responding to a question from Councillor Curtis, the Team Leader explained that the licence covered a 12 month period.

            RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.