Agenda item

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Leisure which informs Members about the powers available to the Council under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

103.1   Council considered a report of the Chair of the Licensing and EnforcementCommittee concerning the powers available to the Council under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

103.2   Councillor Randle (Chair of Licensing and Enforcement Committee) moved the recommendations set out in the report.

103.3   Councillor Dallimore (Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods) seconded the motion.

103.4   Councillor Tracey welcomed the proposals, but expressed disappointment that the legislation did not include any provisions relating to the welfare of horses.

103.5   Councillor Field stated that the welfare of horses was an important issue and that there was a Bill going through Parliament aimed at giving local Councils more powers to intervene.

103.6   Councillor Randle explained that there was no duty on the Council to use the powers, but that it empowered officers to promote the five animal welfare needs. She advised that it was unlikely to impact on officers’ workloads because the RSPCA would continue to conduct investigations into animal welfare matters.

103.7   RESOLVED –

(1)      the use of the powers available under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 be approved;

(2)       that the Terms of Reference for the Licensing and Enforcement Committee be amended to include ’Undertaking matters in relation to the Animal welfare Act 2006 (save to the extent that such responsibility has been delegated to an Officer of the Council)’.

(3)      authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods to exercise the Council’s powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006;

(4)      the specific delegations to Officers as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.