The Council has decided its policy on the management of tethered horses.
Yesterday it agreed to develop a joint protocol with the Police, RSPCA and landowners and travellers setting out responsibilities of all parties and detailing a course of action to be taken in the following circumstances:
• Where a horse is tethered on a highway verge;
• Where a horse is grazing illegally on CYC land;
• Where a horse is grazing illegally on private land;
• Where a horse is found loose on a public highway.
1. The council consider its land assets to identify areas of land that it feels would be suitable for letting as grazing land.
2. The council works with private land owners and the NFU the potential for land owners to provide land for grazing.
3. The councils Animal Health Service work with the RSPCA and horse welfare charities to develop micro chipping and re-homing service.
4. The council review its licence and tenancy agreements and insert a clause that prevents the tethering of horses on council land unless there is an agreement in place as part of the provision of land for grazing.
5. The council enter into a procurement process to appoint a contractor to manage the seizure and, where necessary, the sale of any horses.
Residents are advised to report any concerns about tethered horses to their local Councillor in the first instance.