Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 29 November 2022

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee held on 29 November 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Minutes of the following meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Committee sitting as a Panel:

·       Minutes (1) and (2) of 21 November 2022 in respect of Taxi Hearings

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meetings of the Licensing and Appeals Committee sitting as a Panel held on 21 November 2022 be received and noted.  

Following a period of public consultation an updated Animal Licensing Policy was presented for consideration.

Following a period of public consultation, an updated Animal Licensing policy was presented for consideration.  The updated policy reflected the changes made by The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and no responses to the consultation had been received.

The policy set out how the Council would exercise its functions under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.  It was noted that in having a policy, the Council could apply for the RSPCA Gold Footprint award.

Members attention was brought to paragraph 1.6 of the draft policy whereby the following amendments had subsequently been made in order to provide clarity:

·       The wording ‘not exclusively’ to replace ‘for example’; and

·       The word ‘renewed’ to be inserted following ‘existing licence holders whose licences are being’.

During discussion, Members welcomed the non-mandatory policy and noted the powers available to the Council under the Animal Welfare Act 2016.

RECOMMENDED: That the draft Animal Licensing Policy, attached as Annex 1, be approved, subject to the subsequent amendments.

Head of Service for Licensing, Community Safety and Customer Services will provide a verbal update on air quality matters

The Head of Licensing, Community Safety and Customer Services provided a verbal update on air quality matters, during which it was noted that a report on Kent County Council’s Air Quality consultation would be provided at the next meeting.  The consultation had involved all boroughs across the County and was undertaken in conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust. 

In the interim, it was reported that 636 consultation responses had been received, of which 92 were from within Tonbridge and Malling.  Following consideration of the outcome of the consultation, Members direction would be sought on the Borough Council’s policy on air quality emissions.  

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.