Once a local authority receives an application to grant or renew a licence, it must appoint a suitably qualified inspector to visit the site of the licensable activity. All inspectors must be suitably qualified. A suitably qualified person can be any of the following - it is a person that:
has a Level 3 certificate (or equivalent) granted by a body recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). Their certificate must apply to that particular type of activity to count as qualified. The training must cover the application of the licensing conditions for all licensable activities and must contain a practical element
has a formal veterinary qualification recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), together with a relevant RCVS continuing professional development record
can show evidence of at least one year of experience in licensing and inspecting animal activities businesses - this person needs to be enrolled on a course leading to a Level 3 certificate qualification or equivalent and granted by a body recognised and regulated by Ofqual
The Local Government Animal Welfare Group can signpost officers to suitable training provision available. Inspector responsibilities An inspector must assess if the site is likely to meet the license conditions. As part of this, the inspector must prepare and submit a report for consideration after their inspection, in accordance with regulation 10 requirements of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. An inspector must be appointed:
under section 51 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the Act) to exercise the enforcement powers available under the Act
under regulation 4(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (which from now on will be referred to as ‘the Regulations’) to carry out inspections of premises upon application or renewal of a licence
The Local Government Animal Welfare Group can signpost local authority animal licensing officers to suitable training provision available. Where a person appointed under regulation 4(2)(a) of the Regulations to carry out Inspections of hiring of horses premises on application or renewal is not a listed vet, regulation 4(4) requires that they must be accompanied by a listed vet. Where a person appointed under regulation 4(2)(a) of the Regulations to carry out inspections of breeding of dogs premises on application for a new licence is not a vet, regulation requires that they must be accompanied by a vet.