What happens next
Your application will be verified and you will be contacted to book the vet inspection.
Vet inspection
We will appoint a vet to carry out an inspection of the proposed environment and, in cases of a renewal, any animals present. The vet will produce a report of comments and recommendations and a copy will be passed to you. The vet report is commissioned by the council and the fee will be passed to you. You will be sent a request for payment following the inspection and the application will not progress until the vet fee has been paid.
Consultation
The application will be sent for consultation for 12 working days to Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and, where appropriate, other agencies and neighbours of the property. All comments will be passed to you (neighbour comments will be placed in a summary and anonymised) and will be considered when proposing the licence conditions.
Council inspection
A council officer will also inspect the premises and question you to ensure suitability for the proposed licence and its conditions and familiarise themselves with the premises and its surrounding area. The inspection may happen before, after or at the same time as the vet's visit. The officer may discuss the comments raised and you may make comments, in writing, to environmental health, regarding any of the reports or comments received by relevant parties. Comments made at this stage may influence the licence conditions which will be based on the reports. If council officers have concerns at this stage, you will be contacted in writing and/or by telephone and given the opportunity to address them.
Licensing Sub-Committee
The inspecting officer will determine the appropriate conditions, taking into account the inspection, vet report, consultation comments and the applicants comments. You will receive a copy of the proposed licence conditions and may make representation on these for consideration by the committee.
The committee require a fully complete application 28 days before the relevant committee date where the application will be heard. A full application is considered to have been made once all forms, reports and fees (including the veterinary fee) are received. Forms, reports and fees include:
- application form and fee
- veterinary report and fee
- police report
- relevant neighbourhood comments summary
- list of proposed licence conditions
- appropriate representations from the applicant
Renewals are referred to the licensing sub-committee miscellaneous if considered appropriate by the head of public protection.
The licensing sub-committee miscellaneous meeting
The head of public protection will decide at which licensing sub-sommittee - miscellaneous meeting the application will be considered and you will be informed in writing of the date. You and/or your representative must attend the relevant committee meeting to speak and answer any member questions regarding your application.
Late information or evidence supporting the application received less than seven days before the relevant committee meeting will not be accepted unless a valid and significant reason is provided which the committee agrees to accept.
The committee in consultation with officers and interested parties may require an adjournment, or take other reasonable steps to ensure that the application is heard properly and fairly.
Granting the licence
Following confirmation of the licence conditions, a council officer will inspect the premises to ensure that the conditions of the licence are already being or can be met (where appropriate). If satisfied, the licence will not be valid until the licence holder signs and dates the licence conditions and returns them to environmental health.
If the licence is granted you will be informed in writing and issued with a two year licence and its conditions.
If the licensed is refused you will be notified in writing of the reasons why.
Appeals
Where a licence application is refused or the applicant disagrees with a condition(s) of the licence, there is a right of appeal to a magistrates' court. Any appeal must be lodged within 21 days from the date on which the person was notified of the decision or became aware of the condition. It is recommended you seek legal advice if you wish to make an appeal. The nearest magistrates' court is Cheltenham Magistrates' Court.