Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Head of Public Protection which informs Members of details of key Licensing Activities carried out in the last quarter (October to December 2013), including applications and service requests received, details of any enforcement work, progress updates of the work plan and any changes in Licensing Law.

The Food Licensing and Markets Manager presented Members with a quarterly update on key licensing activities carried out between October and December 2013, including applications and service requests received, details of any enforcement work, progress updates on the work plan and any changes in licensing law.  The Committee was asked to note the report and to make any suggestions on improvements to the format and content that were considered appropriate. 

The Food Licensing and Markets Manager was able to further update the Committee that 30 scrap metal licence applications had been received.  15 of these had been approved with the remainder awaiting determination.

Members were informed of an impending article in the local press regarding the granting of a pet shop licence for the purpose of selling crocodiles.  The Food Licensing and Markets Manager outlined the criteria from the Act which the Council had to consider when evaluating such applications.  The Committee noted that Gloucester City Council did not have a policy on animal welfare licensing and applications were assessed using model conditions specified by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.  It was further noted that there was no provision forpublic consultation in the legislation governing pet shop licences.  It was agreed that a draft policy should be drawn up and considered at a future Licensing and Enforcement Committee.

The Committee discussed the following matters arising from the update report:-

·         The recent granting of a Dog Boarding establishment licence to a premises and how the licence criteria was evaluated. It was noted that this was a boarding house and not an animal shelter.  Members queried whether covenants on deeds restricting such business activity could be enforced.  The Solicitor commented that such covenants were not planning matters and that individuals benefiting from covenants on their property would need to pursue these privately through a solicitor which could mean a considerable expense.  Members further noted that cruelty to animals did not come under the remit of the City Council and that this was a matter for the RSPCA.

·         It was agreed that Officers would supply statistics for a 12 months’ period on taxi and private hire enforcement.

·         It was agreed that information on street trading monitoring would be included in future updates.

·         Members were asked to email the Food Licensing and Markets Manager with any other information they wished to see in future updates.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.