Agenda item

Progress report for the previously completed Fly-Grazed Horses review.

Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Committee’s previously completed review of Fly-Grazed Horses.  This was the fourth progress update following the Committee’s agreement of the Action Plan in February 2021, with developments in relation to outstanding agreed actions noted as follows:

•         Recommendation 1 (Cleveland Police, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) and other relevant partners, in conjunction with any other interested Tees Valley Local Authorities, develop a joint formal policy document to address the fly-grazing of horses on both Council and non-Council land, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of the relevant organisations): The Cleveland Police Procurement Team are currently engaged with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) working group who are developing a national approach to the issue of fly-grazed horses.  The force are awaiting an indication of timescales in respect of the NPCC working group and cannot move forward until this steer has been given.  In the meantime, the police have continued to meet with the SBC Environmental Health Service Manager and there has been a Chief Inspector of local policing appointed who is now a permanent addition to the district – this is important in providing consistency for the problem-solving process.

•         Recommendation 6 (Relevant SBC departments identify specific areas of Council land requiring a zero-tolerance approach based on location alone, along with an assessment of the resources required to support the enforcement of the new formal policy on these pieces of land and any other land where a horse’s presence poses an identified risk): As set out previously, SBC Environmental Health continue to address all complaints of this nature on a case-by-case basis.  The team also continue to engage with the public, particularly individuals from the travelling community, and maintain strong links with the RSPCA.

•         Recommendation 7 (Consideration be given to arranging a future microchipping clinic in the Borough (in conjunction with the British Horse Society)): Local charities remain under considerable financial pressure, both post-pandemic and because of the reported cost-of-living crisis, with donations dramatically reduced.  The availability of free microchipping sessions (as well as other associated offers) for the public are not currently being undertaken.

The Cleveland Police representative in attendance stated that the force recognised its responsibilities in relation to this practice, but could not develop a policy which was not fully aligned to any national approach.  The force received a very limited number of calls regarding fly-grazed horses, and this had to be balanced against the potentially significant investment required to manage local cases.  That said, Cleveland Police remained committed to reaching a solution and, to this end, would continue to work with SBC officers.

The Committee reflected on the length of time that had elapsed since the agreement of the post-review Action Plan back in early-February 2021.  Whilst it was immensely frustrating that progress on the anticipated joint formal policy between Cleveland Police and SBC had been slow, it was emphasised that important work had been actioned around this scrutiny topic, with improvements to the Council’s communications on the issue, the public being more informed about what to do in the event of a horse being fly-grazed, and positive informal relationships being formed / reinforced with local horse-owners.

Following discussion, Members agreed that there was little to be gained in requesting any future progress updates in relation to the outstanding recommendations until the national picture became much clearer and Cleveland Police could reach a firm position on the way forward regarding a joint formal policy.

AGREED that:

1)       the Fly-Grazed Horses progress update be noted and the assessments for progress be confirmed.

2)       the next update on progress would not be scheduled until significant developments had been seen regarding the national police approach to the issue of fly-grazed horses.