Decision details

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.

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

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.

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.