Councillors are being urged to sign an animal welfare pledge as part of a wider effort to assess and improve the council's commitment to the cause. The Place Committee at Kingston upon Thames has agreed to encourage all councillors to sign an RSPCA campaign pledge, which commits them to the RSPCA's five key animal welfare missions.
The decision was made during a meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, where a motion referred from the full council, titled Every Councillor for Every Kind,
was debated. While acknowledging that the council already undertakes many activities related to animal welfare, an amendment was agreed to remove the proposal for a dedicated Task and Finish Panel. This shift means that instead of a formal panel review, the focus will be on individual councillor pledges and a future report.
Instead of a panel, the committee resolved to receive a detailed report in March 2027 on the council's activities concerning the RSPCA's five missions: protecting pets and promoting responsible ownership, raising welfare standards for farm animals, safeguarding wildlife welfare and natural habitats, enforcing animal welfare laws effectively, and building partnerships for lasting impact. This report is expected to provide data and evidence on how the council meets these missions.
Kingston upon Thames council already undertakes a range of activities related to animal welfare. These include the licensing of animal activities such as pet sellers, dog breeders, and boarding facilities, with regular inspections and prompt investigation of complaints. The council also manages a contracted service for stray dog responses, including seizure, temporary housing, and rehoming.
Furthermore, the council collaborates with the Metropolitan Police on the LEAD (Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs) Initiative to promote responsible dog ownership and tackle dog-related anti-social behaviour. Arrangements are also in place to accommodate pets in specific rooms during emergency incidents. The management of council-owned land contributes to animal welfare through habitat creation and enhancement, including meadow management, tree planting, and woodland management, as well as managing parks and open spaces to support biodiversity.
Regulatory Services officers enforce animal welfare laws, handling aspects like stray dog recovery, investigating noise complaints from animals, ensuring bird keeper registration, and enforcing animal disease control measures. The council also engages in partnership working with various organisations, including Friends Groups, environmental organisations, schools, volunteers, contractors, and statutory bodies, to support responsible pet ownership, biodiversity, habitat management, conservation, animal health, environmental management, and community engagement.
Councillor Nicola Nardelli, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling, who seconded the amendment, stated, As councillor Tracey said, it is a lot of stuff that we're already doing. In fact, all of it we're already doing. And along with other councils, uh, across the United Kingdom, we're happy to support this motion.
Councillor Roger Hayes, a member of the committee, added, We do do stuff. We do good stuff. And again, like everything else, we probably should blow our trumpet about that from time to time. And as Councillor Higgins was saying, provide some actual data on what we do and how well we might do it.
More information on the council's activities can be found in the public reports pack for the Place Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Public reports pack Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.30 Place Committee.
Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 23-Sep-2026 19.30 Place Committee