Purpose

Portfolio Holder approval is requested for
Gedling Borough Council (‘GBC’) to enter into a Service
Level Agreement (‘SLA’) with NCC, so that NCC provide
GBC with a stray dog collection service, to be carried out by
NCC’s dog wardens. Portfolio Holder approval is sought in
accordance with paragraph 7.2 of Section 25 (Financial Regulations)
of the Constitution, because this agreement constitutes a
Partnership under those regulations.

Decision

Approval is given for GBC to enter a SLA with
NCC to deliver a collection of stray dogs service.

Reasons for the decision

The Council has a Statutory Duty to collect
stray dogs and store them for 7 days.
Nottingham City Council have sufficient resources and experience in
place to immediately take over the Statutory Duty of stray dog
collection from the outgoing Neighbourhood Warden.

Alternative options considered

For Gedling Borough Council to retain staff
for the purpose of collecting stray dogs. – This is not the
preferred option as the Neighbourhood Warden service will be ceased
and staffing budgets have been given up to make efficiencies, and
this would require the budget to be reinstated.
Alternatively, existing staff would have to be upskilled, but this
would put a significant strain on their workload.
Use a 3rd party private organisation to conduct the collecting of
stray dogs – This is not the preferred option because the
organisation responsible will be handling very delicate and
emotional situations in which someone’s dog has escaped,
something that Nottingham City Council Officers have significant
experience of. Furthermore, Nottingham City Council are known and
trusted by local residents.
Based on the information gathered from other organisations,
including other local authorities, it appears Nottingham City
Council are financially the better option, and their set yearly fee
is £11,000, with £100 per dog collected.