Up to 250% increase on animal license fees

25/05/2021 @ 11:13

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Animal licensing fees will increase by up to 250% after councillors approved the changes, but concerns were raised that it will create underground businesses who will operate unlicensed and unchecked.

Over a two-year period, Powys County Council said it will cost them £28,125 not to increase the Animal Licence fee, but proposals will see some of the fees increased by over 250% and an average increase of around 70%.

At the latest Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way Committee meeting, councillors re-visited the issue after it had been deferred in April when it was recommended that the animal licence fees be brought back after details of the costs were added to the report.

Procedural errors on the way the change had been implemented had also been revealed which had horrified Cllr Jon Williams who had recommended freezing the fee to the level it was before January 2020.

At the May meeting, senior enforcement officer, Gavin Jones, explained the process taken by staff to go through licence applications, including the time it takes and how much it costs.

Mr Jones said that the increase in fees would allow the council to recover its costs in administering the licences.

Mr Jones said: “We’ve tried not to burden the businesses with extra costs, we only do what we have to do, and have tried to streamline the process to cut the hours involved to the minimum.”

The issues had already cost £7,459 in repaying those who had lodged successful objections since the increase had been first mooted in January 2020.

The problem had been that an officer had taken the decision to implement the change, rather than the committee who are supposed to.

Due to technical issues, Cllr Williams was unable to speak at the meeting in person, but a statement by him was read out to councillors.

Cllr Williams said: “Following the last meeting, I was contacted by a boarding kennel to express their concern about the increase in licence fees, the way it was incorrectly implemented.

“They have very serious concerns about increasing the fees because of the effect covid has had on these businesses.”

He knew that five businesses had closed with two blaming the fee increase as the “final nail in the coffin”.

Cllr Williams said: “There is a real possibility that this will create underground businesses who will operate unlicensed and unchecked creating animal welfare issues.

“The council made an error in the way this was dealt with and created a two-tier system by refunding those who complained. The committee voted to refuse putting up taxi licence fees because of the pandemic and should treat all businesses with fairness and equality.”

He urged his fellow councillors to refuse the fee increase.

Mr Jones told the committee: “There will always be unlicensed businesses out there. Where we become aware of them, we will investigate and bring them to task if need be.”

Committee solicitor, Colin Edwards believed those who objected and were refunded, had received 12 months without a fee increase, which is the same as taxi licences.

Mr Edwards interpreted this as what Cllr Williams meant and hopefully “he would be pleased”.

Cllr Roger Williams said: “When the Senedd decided the grant, we receive they assume we are going for cost recovery on the regulatory work we provide and if we don’t, then it’s the ratepayer that carries the cost.

“It’s good that we’ve had a full explanation on how these things work.”

He was prepared to support the changes and put them to a vote.

The changes were approved unanimously.

Proposed licence fees for 2021/22:

• Home Boarder – £268

• Commercial Kennels/Cattery – £303