Agenda item

To seek approval of the updated Pet Policy.

            The Group Head Housing, Wellbeing and Communities was invited by the Chair to introduce the report.

The report set out the consultation that had been carried out as part of the review of the Council’s Pet’s Policy and considering any requirements for change.   The Policy highlighted that it was of great interest to residents with 435 responses received during the consultation period. A summary of the key results from the consultation had been provided at paragraph 5.  Given the keen interest of both members and residents, and prompted by a member of the Committee, a round table discussion had taken place with members of the Committee to discuss some of the changes they were advocating for.  He had also held further discussions with the Neighbourhood Housing Team to understand the implications of those changes and had looked at what other housing providers were doing.  As a result key wording had been changed concerning permissions, set out in paragraph 5.7.1 of the report including the principle of not unnecessarily withholding permission.  The criteria for decision making had been updated, set out in paragraph 5.7.4 of the report, to assist staff in their decision making and consistency.  Both the pet agreement form, appendix 3, and the pet ownership leaflet, appendix 4, had been updated to reflect the changes.  The outcome of the discussions with members and staff was that these changes would help to provide consistency to the application of the Policy and reduce the unnecessary work that had impacted the Housing Service. 

            The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Yeates and seconded by Councillor Pendleton.

            The Chair invited questions and comments from members.  

During the discussion the following amendments were made to the report, Pet Policy and Pet Ownership on Arun District Council homes leaflet:

-     Recommendation paragraph 2.1.1, page 141: Amend “…Pets Policy…” to read “…Pet Policy…”.

Pet Policy:

-     Paragraph 1.6, page 149: Amend “…pets and…” to read “…pets, and…”

-     Paragraphs 4.6.2 and 4.6.3, page 152: Swap the order of both paragraphs , so that they read from most permissive to least permissive

Pet Ownership on Arun District Council homes leaflet, page 164:

-     Column one, reorder rows three and four, so that it reads from most permissive to least permissive

-     House or bungalow with private garden: Amend column 3 to read “Will give permission”

-     Flat or maisonette without a private garden: Amend “masionette” to read “maisonette”; Amend column 2 to read “one dog or one cat”

-     Ground floor flat or maisonette with a private garden: Amend “masionette” to read “maisonette”; Amend column 3 to read “Will give permission”

-     Pets we do not allow, Bullet point 4, page 165: add chickens

            Councillor Yeates agreed to submit further minor amendments and suggestions for ensuring all the wording in the documents was aligned, in respect of the documents being considered, to the Group Head Housing, Wellbeing and Communities who would make the amendments under his authorised delegated powers.

            The Group Head Housing, Wellbeing and Communities reassured the Committee that the Policy would not be a sideways route to not permitting pets and was worded to be permissive.  The intention of the Policy was to deliver consistent decisions and not unnecessarily withhold permission.

            Further comments were made and officers were thanked for the work undertaken to produce the Policy and for it being positively in favour of pet ownership.  If residents felt their application had not been considered fairly their ward members would be able to assist.  The leaflet was colourful, informative and easy to understand.  A member advised that a residential association within their Ward were happy with the introduction of the Policy.  It was asked if what the position would be if circumstances had changed, and a tenant wanted to replace their pet?  The Group Head Housing, Wellbeing and Communities advised that the general position was that there was implied permission there already.

The Committee  

RESOLVED to

2.1.1  Approve the updated Pet Policy.

2.1.2  Give delegated authority to the Group Head of Housing, Wellbeing and Communities to make minor changes to the policy and any amendments necessary to reflect any operational, legislative and regulatory changes.