Closed: Consultation on Animal Welfare Licensing Policy

The draft policy, which is the same for both authorities, sets out how the councils will exercise their functions under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and how they are administered in the district and borough.

These regulations can be found in The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 document.

Legislation requires licence conditions to ensure acceptable animal welfare standards. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 introduced overarching principles of animal welfare, known as the "five needs".

These are:

1. The need for a suitable environment (by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area).
2. The need for a suitable diet (by ready access, where appropriate, to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health).
3. The need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns (by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and the company of an animal of its own kind, where appropriate).
4. Any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (by providing the company of an animal of its own kind, where appropriate).
5. The need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease (by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment, and ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering).

Draft council policy

The draft policy sets out the criteria the councils will take into account when deciding whether a new applicant or an existing licence holder is suitable to have a licence granted or renewed.

A number of factors will be taken into account, including:

• Compliance with licence requirements, guidance and conditions.
• Relevant criminal convictions.
• Non-criminal behaviour, which might call into question the suitability for a license to be granted or renewed.
• The general character of the applicant.

The policy aims to ensure:

• All licences are held in accordance with national legislation.
• The overarching principles of animal welfare (the "five needs") are upheld in any decision.
• The safeguarding of any children or vulnerable people in contact with a licensable activity.
• Each application is considered on its merits.

Under the draft policy, the councils will base their animal licensing regime on the following four principles:

• Responsibility to protect the welfare of all fellow creatures.
• Ensuring the welfare of domestic or captive animals by implementing appropriate standards that promote the "five needs" to secure animal welfare.
• Ensuring that persons responsible for the management of animal welfare adhere to recognised standards of good practice.
• Ensuring that, so far as it falls within its powers, the requirements of all animal-related legislation will be rigorously and proactively enforced.

The full policy is available to download below:

LEC Animal Welfare Licensing Policy (PDF, 404 KB)