Licensing Committee

30 March 2017

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Animal Establishment Fees 2017/2018

 

Final Decision-Maker

Licensing Committee

Lead Head of Service

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

Lead Officer/Report Author

Claire Perry, Licensing Partnership Manager

Classification

Non-exempt

Wards affected

All

 

 

This report makes the following recommendation:

1.    That the Licensing Committee approve the fee levels as set out in paragraph 2.6of the report for implementation on 1 April 2017.

 

 

This report relates to the following Five Year Plan Key Objectives:

·         A Great Place

It is proposed to set fees which enable the authority to be self-financing with respect to this service.

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Licensing Committee

 

30 March 2017



Animal Establishment Fees 2017/2018

 

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1      The authority should regularly review the fees set for the administration and compliance checks of the Animal Establishments. This ensures the Council complies with good practice and that the licensing of Animal Establishments is self-financing, in accordance with the Council’s Financial Strategy.

 

1.2      A fees model, similar to the one used to first set the Gambling Act fees in 2007 was used to determine the proposed fees for 2017 onwards. 

 

 

2.         INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1      It is the Council’s policy that the Animal Establishment Licensing service is required to be self-financing and the proposed increases to fees will ensure this is maintained.  

 

2.2      Where possible careful monitoring of income and expenditure has been carried out over the current financial year and the income from licence fees and associated costs, together with expenditure, has been in accordance with the objectives laid out in the budget plan and the inflation rate. 

 

2.3      A fees model, similar to the one used to first set the Gambling Act fees in 2007, was used to calculate the proposed fees and charges. The fees have been calculated by examining the time it takes to carry out the various tasks in processing the application and who in the authority is likely to carry them out. The hourly rates of staff are fed in to a spread sheet (originally produced by the national support body for local authority regulators, LACORS, to calculate the Gambling Act fees) to calculate costs for each type of activity.

 

2.4      The type of tasks involved in animal establishment licensing applications include: assistance to the applicant, checking of an application upon receipt, compliance checks and processing the application. Once processed, types of tasks include: preparation and issuing of the licence and updating the records/register. Training of Officers and Members has also been included, as well as the cost of consumables.

 

2.5      At the Licensing Committee meeting on 16 June 2016 Members set fees which removed the veterinary surgeon’s fees from the Council’s fees for riding establishments. This was done following a request from a riding establishment. The establishments are now invoiced separately by the Environmental Enforcement team for the veterinary costs.

 

 

 

 

 

2.6      Proposed Animal Establishment fees from 1 April 2017 are:

 

 

Fees from 4th July 2016

Fees from 1 April 2017

Animal Boarding

Cats only

Up to 30

31 - 60

 

£175

£290

 

£180

£295

Dogs only

Up to 50

51 - 100

 

£340

£430

 

£350

£440

Cats and Dogs

Up to 50

51 – 90

91 – 125

126+

 

£285

£410

£555

£605

 

£290

£430

£565

£615

Performing Animals

£160

£165

Dangerous Wild Animals

£440

£450

Zoo

£555 (plus deposit of £2,150)

£565 (plus deposit of £2,150)

Breeding of Dogs

Up to 5 bitches

6 – 10

11 – 15

16 - 20

£275

£405

£530 for 11+ bitches

N/A

£290

£415

£540 for 11+ bitches

N/A

Pet Shops

Initial licence

For additional licences, charge higher fee first

£400

£85

£410

£85

Horse Riding Establishments

Up to and including 10 horses    

11 horses and above

£310 (excl. Vet’s fees)

£415 (excl. Vet’s fees)

£315 (excl. Vet’s fees)

£425 (excl. Vet’s fees)

 

 

3.         AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1      The fees and charges need to be reviewed to ensure that they are set at appropriate levels to recover the costs associated with providing the service. Having reviewed the income and expenditure the options available are:

 

3.2      To propose no changes or reductions to the existing fees. This would mean there would be a shortfall in income against the budget set for the function.

 

3.3      To approve the fees as set at in paragraph 2.6.

 

3.4      To propose a fee regime higher than the cost of delivering the service. However, if the Council were subject to challenge it would not be in a position to justify the fees that have been set.

 

 

4.         PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1      The option set out at Paragraph 3.3 to approve the fees set out in Paragraph 2.6 to ensure that the fee income reflects the cost of providing the service.

 

 

5.        NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

5.1      The fees will be charged with respect to new, existing and renewal applications from 1 April 2017 and published on our website.

 

6.        CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

(name of officer and date)

Impact on Corporate Priorities

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service or Manager]

Risk Management

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service or Manager]

Finance and other resources

It is necessary for the Council to deliver a balanced budget and cover the costs of providing this service.

[Section 151 Officer & Finance Team]

Staffing

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service]

Legal

Legal implications are set out in the body of the report.

Jayne Bolas, Solicitor

Team Leader(Contentious)

 

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

No implications have been identified

[Policy & Information Manager]

Environmental/Sustainable Development

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service or Manager]

Community Safety

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service or Manager]

Human Rights Act

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service or Manager]

Procurement

No implications have been identified

[Head of Service & Section 151 Officer]

7.         REPORT APPENDICES

 

None

 

 

 

8.         BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None