Animal premise inspections
All premises will be inspected before the licence is granted. The inspector will be looking to make sure the applicant has the following:
- A specialist knowledge in the species that they are caring for and a clear understanding of its needs and welfare. This would include the animals' mental and physical health, feeding and knowledge of environmental enrichment. The applicant should be able to demonstrate that they have researched and followed expert guidance in order to carry out their role.
- Comprehensive records that contain all the information required by the conditions that apply to their particular activities.
- An understanding of risks involved in caring for the animal, including an extensive risk assessment and written policies and procedures that are reviewed regularly. These documents should be available for the Inspector to examine.
- Training procedures in place to make sure staff know what is expected of them, and clear evidence of good supervision of staff.
The premises will also be assessed to ensure the licence holder can meet the new laws relating to the physical environment in which the animals will be kept. Based on the application, and the information provided at the inspection, we will assess the risk rating and award stars using a scoring method created by DEFRA, which is a requirement under the new scheme.
Low-risk premises can achieve up to five stars, and premises which have been assessed as higher risk can be awarded up to four stars. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, they can make improvements to address highlighted issues, and ask for a re-inspection.
Premises with lower star ratings
A premises with a lower star rating is not necessarily a premises to avoid as there are other factors that have to be considered, such as the length of time the licence holder has been operating.
New businesses are likely to be assessed as slightly higher risk as there is no history of good practice that can be considered. As previously stated, the scoring method created by DEFRA is one we must use to comply with Government requirements, and the ratings given should not be seen as a recommendation by the Council.
If customers have any concerns, please contact the Environmental Health Team.