Issue - items at meetings - Pet Policy

33.1         RESOLVED – That subject to the inclusion of a provision normally limiting the number of dogs in any household to one, the Housing Committee agrees to the adoption of the Pet Policy

33.1         The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing on the Pet Policy. The report was presented by Ms E Hitchens, Senior Neighbourhood Officer.

33.2         Councillor Barnett asked whether officers checked whether tenants had had their dogs chipped. Officers advised that they would, and added that when compulsory micro chipping was introduced, the Dogs Trust would be involved.

33.3         Councillor Morgan said that having a pet could be beneficial for some people, and asked if the authority promoted that. Officers advised that there was a leaflet which promoted the keeping of pets but it was important that people had the right pet for them. Councillor Peltzer Dunn said it was important that tenants should understand the implications of having a pet, the cost implications etc.

33.4         Councillor Peltzer Dunn said that the current policy did not limit the number of cats or dogs people had, and said it could be  very difficult for officers to have to make a decision if someone was felt to have too many. He suggested that the policy should limit tenants to having only one. The Chair asked for legal advice. The solicitor advised that a rigid policy of only one dog per property could be vulnerable to challenge on the basis that the council had unlawfully fettered its discretion. The policy could however properly include a provision that ‘Permission will normally be given for only one dog’, thereby preserving the council’s discretion. The Committee agreed, and directed officers to include appropriate wording in the policy. Councillor Rufus asked what would happen if a tenant moved. The solicitor said consent was given for a tenant to keep a pet in a particular property. If the tenant moved, a new consent would be required.

33.5         RESOLVED – That subject to the inclusion of a provision normally limiting the number of dogs in any household to one, the Housing Committee agrees to the adoption of the Pet Policy.