The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has asked the LGA to remind colleagues that all local authorities must submit a completed animal licensing form by 31 May 2022.

In its latest Community Safety, Policing and Fire Service Bulletin, the LGA wrote:

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has asked us to remind colleagues that all local authorities must submit a completed animal licensing form by 31 May 2022.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, local authorities are required to provide certain information annually to the Secretary of State for DEFRA. This includes the number of licences in force for each licensable activity in the local authority and the average level of fees it has charged for licences it has granted or renewed in each reporting period.

This year, DEFRA has moved to a new online form which allows local authorities to submit their information for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 directly to DEFRA. Councils can contact AnimalActivitiesLicensing@defra.gov.uk if with any questions.