Decision details

To introduce charging for inspection re-scores available through the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and for the Animal Activity Licensing inspection regime.
A charge of £170 to be levied for each accepted food hygiene application.
For boarding and day care establishments, breeding of dogs and selling animals a charge covering an average of 5 hours work would be appropriate for the assessment of the application, inspection and post inspection report.
For Horse Riding Establishments, hiring of horses, a rate of £250 would cover the costs of re-inspection and assessment activity.
For licensed Zoos, a charge of £250 for the first day, and £34 per hour (or part of an hour) thereafter will be chargeable.
Proposed fees and charges to be kept under review and any proposed changes considered during annual budget processes.

The Council is required to undertake specific Food Hygiene inspections and licensing inspections for activities involving animals.
Currently, re-inspections and follow up assessments are undertaken free of charge.
The Council is able to charge for these activities.
The Animal Welfare licensing fees are based on a full cost recovery model for the licensing process but do not account for additional re-visits requested by a business.
Requests for rescores and revisits are likely to place a significant additional burden on the Council.

The Council could maintain its current process of undertaking requested re-inspection visits without charging.
This option was rejected due to the potential to draw essential resources away from statutory services, which put them at risk of failure due to the potential high demand for re-assessment.