Agenda item

To propose a 12 month pilot Commercial Dog Walking Licensing Scheme in Nonsuch Park as set out in this report.

The Committee received a report proposing a 12-month pilot Commercial Dog Walking Licensing Scheme in Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Licence Fee and Dog-Limit. In response to a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that the Nonsuch Park Commercial Dog Walking Working Group proposed a licence fee of £200 per annum. She confirmed that the working group proposed that the maximum number of dogs per person be set to 6, with the recommendation of 4 dogs as best-practice. She explained that in any case, each commercial dog-walker’s insurance must cover them for the number of dogs they choose to walk.

b)            Scheme Launch Date. Following a question from a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that, should the Committee be minded to adopt the proposal for the 12 month pilot licensing scheme, the scheme would be due for launch in April.

c)            Communications. In response to a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) explained that the licensing scheme would be advertised and promoted on the Park’s notice boards and the Councils’, social media platforms. She stated that information regarding the licensing scheme would likely also spread quickly via word of mouth. She explained that a Nonsuch Park email address had been established as a means for the commercial dog walkers, and any other Park users, to contact the Council with any queries they might have.

d)            Commercial Dog-Walking Community. Following the Nonsuch Park Commercial Dog-Walking Consultation Forum held at Bourne Hall on 20 August 2024, the Committee acknowledged that many of the Commercial Dog-Walkers of Nonsuch Park had formed a close-knit community together, and considered the benefits that the community could bring to the Park, including security and safety for Park users. The Committee noted that the Commercial Dog Walkers who attended the consultation forum were supportive of the implementation of the proposed licensing scheme.

e)            6-Dog Limit. The Committee noted that the proposed terms of the licensing scheme stipulated that individual commercial dog walkers would be limited to walking no more than 6 dogs at a time. The Committee considered the possibility of dog walkers meeting up, resulting in groups of dogs larger than six being walked together. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that the matter could be addressed in the Nonsuch Park Dog Walking Code of Conduct and in the Nonsuch Park Commercial Dog-Walking Licensing Policy – she explained that both documents would be brought before the Committee in January for final approval prior to implementation.

f)             Future Report to Review the Scheme. The Committee agreed that a report would be brought back after a year from the launch of the scheme to allow the Nonsuch Park Commercial Dog-Walking Licensing Scheme to be reviewed.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the outcome of the Commercial Dog Walking Working Group Meeting and subsequent Commercial Dog Walking Forum.

(2)      Agree to adopt the proposal for a 12-month pilot Commercial Dog Walking Licensing Scheme for Nonsuch Park as set out in section 3 of the report.

(3)      Agree to a Dog Walking Code of Conduct to be devised and advertised for all dog walkers in the park.

(4)      Agree to receive a draft Nonsuch Park Commercial Dog-Walking Licensing Policy and a draft Nonsuch Park Dog Walking Code of Conduct for approval at the January meeting of the Committee.