Issue - meetings

The purpose of the report by the Director of Culture and City Development is to provide background information on, and to seek an agreement in relation to, the appropriate inclusion of animals at events and circuses on Portsmouth City Council land or on any sites where a venue is operated on behalf of the City Council. 

RECOMMENDED

(1)  That the City Council adopts a clear and robust approach so we can effectively demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that animal welfare is a prime consideration while balancing the need to ensure a broad and varied events programme where animal involvement can appropriately be included, both for entertainment and education purposes.

(2)  That the City Council does not permit any circuses or events that include captive, endangered or wild animals to take place on City Council land or on any sites where a venue is operated on behalf of the City Council.

(3)  That the City Council agrees to permit performances and displays of animals (both domestic and working animals) at circuses and/or events with the provision that documentation and supporting evidence is submitted to the appropriate City Council department for consideration in advance. All paperwork must fully and appropriately demonstrate that the welfare of the animals has been considered and secured when performing, at rest and when in transit to the event and/or circus. This would require the submission of a veterinary certificate, risk assessments and animal welfare policy.

(4)  That the City Council will not permit mobile petting zoos, static exhibitions or the sale of animals (which includes invertebrates, reptiles and fish, excluding working animals) at any events on City Council land, or on any sites where a venue is operated on behalf of the City Council, irrespective of whether appropriate documentation is available or not. The exception to this would be Cumberland House Natural History Museum and Butterfly House, Blue Reef Aquarium, schools or similar where the main role of the venue is for educational or conservation purposes and that it can be demonstrated that all appropriate measures have been put in place to safeguard the well-being of the animals, invertebrates and insects on display there.

(5)  That only those domestic or working animals performing at the event and/or circus be permitted to be kept on site, excepting domestic pets of members of the circus.

(6)  That the wording within the Licence issued by the City Council that permits use of a site for circuses on its land be amended to state that 'the Licensee shall be permitted to hold a circus show provided only domestic or working animals shall take part in the circus show or be kept on the Site (save that domestic pets of circus members shall be permitted to be kept on the Site provided that they are not used to take part in performances or for exhibition purposes).

(7)  That the City Council's approach on animal involvement does not restrict pets as therapy sessions in care homes, dog walking, animal grooming or dog shows on City Council land or any sites where a venue is operated on behalf of the City Council, provided that animal welfare is appropriately maintained by those managing the activity. Should the City Council receive any reports or concerns of animal abuse or cruelty at any of these activities, these will be investigated and instructed to cease as necessary.