13th December 2006 REGULATORY COMMITTEE - Continued 13th December 2006

BOROUGH OF REIGATE AND BANSTEAD

REGULATORY COMMITTEE

13th December 2006 REGULATORY COMMITTEE - Continued 13th December 2006

Minutes of a meeting of the Regulatory Committee held at the Town Hall, Reigate on Wednesday, 13th December 2006 at 7.30 p.m.

Present: Councillor A.M. Lynch (Chairman); Councillors S.S. Banwait, G.P. Crome, Mrs.D.E. Durward, R. Harper, R. Miah and S.T. Walsh.

8.  MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 25th May 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed.

9.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Apologies for Absence / Substitute Members
Councillor Ms. A.S. Berridge
Councillor R.K. Ellingham / -
-

10.  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

11.  application for dangerous wild animal licence

The Committee considered a report on an application to keep certain crocodilians under the provisions of a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence at a private dwelling in a semi rural area. A copy of the application form was set out in Annex 1 to the submitted report, and Members noted details of the numbers and species of the crocodilians to be covered by the Licence. The report indicated that the applicant intended to exhibit crocodilians of no more than one metre in length at schools and private events and consequently had also applied to Surrey County Council for registration under the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act1925.

A statement of the applicant’s intentions and supporting information was contained in Annex 2 of the submitted report. The report also included a copy of a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence previously issued to the applicant by Runneymede Borough Council, a reference from Professor Webb of the Species Survival Commission’s Crocodile Specialist Group, a training certificate awarded by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, a table of suggested conditions and details of Section 1 of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

The submitted report also set out a number of factors for Members’ consideration and included details of an initial inspection carried out by the Council’s Veterinary Surgeon who was of the opinion that the listed crocodilians might suitablybeheld at the premises subject to certain conditions and to a final inspection of the accommodation. The resource implications relating to this application were outlined in the submitted report which was introduced by the Licensing Officer.

The applicant attended the meeting and gave further details in support of his application including information relating to his experience with crocodilians. He indicated that he had run a successful business involving crocodiles in Australia and was heavily involved in crocodile conservation. Further information was supplied in response to queries raised by Members and the applicant confirmed that his plans took into account public health and safety aspects and also had regard to the welfare of the animals.

RESOLVED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds of:

(i)  the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 4 and 7 of Part1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and;

(ii) the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

At 8.07 p.m. the Committee, accompanied by the legal representative, then deliberated in private session and following consideration of the issues involved the meeting reconvened at 8.28 p.m. and the Chairman announced the Committee’s decision.

RESOLVED that:

(i)  the proposed conditions set out in Annex 6 of the submitted report be amended so that the period between tests for crocodilian zoonotic diseases suggested in condition 9(a) shall not exceed 6months; and

(ii)  the application for a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence be granted on the first day following receipt of the Veterinary Officer’s final inspection report subject to the conditions set out in Annex 6 of the submitted report as amended in (i) above.

12.  ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

None.

The meeting closed at 8.30 p.m.