Issue - meetings

This report sets out the proposed policy and route for enforcing the removal of horses from Council land where they are illegally grazing and sets out how the Council can support private land owners where horses are illegally grazing on private land.

RESOLVED:                That Cabinet agree the Protocol for the Management of Horses in York as set out at Annex 1 of the report.

REASON:                     To ensure that the Council has a robust, yet balanced approach to dealing with tethered horses.

The Cabinet considered a report which set out the proposed policy and route for enforcing the removal of horses from Council land when they were grazing illegally. It also set out how the authority could support private landowners where horses were illegally grazing on private land.

A joint protocol had now been developed following work by a multi agency group setting out responsibilities of all parties and detailing the courses of action to be taken in a number of circumstances, which was set out at Annex 1 of the report. It was confirmed that although a representative of the Travellers Trust had not attend consultation meetings the protocol had been shared with the Travellers community.

The engagement of a Horse Bailiff had been considered important, to ensure that the protocol worked to support the removal of the horses as had securing land adjacent to the current Osbaldwick Travellers site for the provision of grazing land for the travellers.

The options put forward for consideration were:

Option 1 – To agree the joint protocol as set out at Annex 1.

Option 2 - To not agree the protocol and retain the status quo.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged that, although the joint protocol had taken some time to develop with a number of partner organisations, adoption of it would ensure that the authority had a policy to deal with any future issues also ensuring the welfare of the animals concerned.

Following further discussion it was

RESOLVED:                That Cabinet agree the Protocol for the Management of Horses in York as set out at Annex 1 of the report. ^1.

REASON:                     To ensure that the Council has a robust, yet balanced approach to dealing with tethered horses.