VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Councils struggling to cover animal welfare costs
30/04/2025 Local authority efforts to enforce animal welfare legislation are undermined by cost restraints, according to a report by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). |
Council declares badger emergency
04/11/2024 Lincolnshire County Council has obtained a ‘last-minute’ licence for emergency works to stop a road falling apart after it was damaged by badgers. |
Council adapts culvert to help otters cross road
16/08/2024 West Sussex County Council is installing a new ‘mammal shelf’ in a culvert under the A272 to help otters crossing the road. |
Villagers invited to discuss issue with chickens
28/05/2024 A parish council in Norfolk has invited residents’ views on a flock of feral chickens residing in the village. |
‘Suffering’ XL Bully dogs rescued from breeding facility
07/05/2024 Over 20 dogs, believed to be XL Bullies, have been rescued from squalid conditions in a breeding facility in Sheffield in a joint operation. |
Toad rescuers help record number of amphibians cross road
11/04/2024 Toad rescuers in Bath have broken a new record by helping the highest number of amphibians cross the road in 14 years. |
2,700 dangerous animals kept as pets
23/02/2024 Lions, tigers and venomous snakes are among the 2,700 wild animals kept at private addresses across the UK, wildlife charity Born Free has revealed. |
Beavers reintroduced to west London
12/10/2023 Beavers have been returned to west London for the first time in 400 years, Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced. |
The future of animal welfare enforcement
19/06/2023 Lee Gingell, public affairs manager at the RSPCA, looks at animal welfare enforcement at the local level. |
Council removes 30-tonne whale from beach
09/05/2023 The carcass of a 30-tonne whale has been removed from a beach in East Yorkshire, the local authority has confirmed. |
Beavers reintroduced to London borough of Ealing
06/02/2023 Ealing is set to welcome beavers back to the borough for the first time in four centuries in a major council-supported reintroduction project. |
Council bans trail hunting on its land
08/12/2021 Cheshire West and Chester Council has agreed to ban trail hunting on its land following concerns over the risk posed to animals and the environment. |
Animal welfare plan could place local regulatory services under ‘pressure’
14/05/2021 Council chiefs are concerned an action plan to improve the welfare of animals at home and abroad will place regulatory services under ‘significant pressure’. |
Charity calls for reform of public sector food sourcing standards
21/04/2021 A charity is calling for a major overhaul of public sector food sourcing standards to protect school children and hospital patients from being served a low welfare menu. |
RSPCA urges pet owners to fill out a pet care plan
07/04/2020 Councils have been urged to encourage pet owners to display pet care plan posters in the event of an emergency. |
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Councils urged to take urgent action to tackle puppy farming
14/02/2020 Councils are being urged to publish their list of inspected dog breeders to help tackle illegal and cruel puppy farming by an animal welfare charity. |
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UK's first bat-friendly street lights are switched on
03/09/2019 New LED lighting that emits a red glow to provide a bat friendly crossing has been completed in Worcestershire. |
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Councils urged to adopt new hedgehog traffic sign
17/06/2019 Transport secretary Chris Grayling today unveiled a new traffic sign which warns road users of hazards due to animals on the road. |
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Councils struggle to tackle 'nuisance' urban gulls
21/05/2019 Councils across the UK are using a wide range of measures to deal with the nuisance posed by urban gulls, according to new research. |
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Council confirms piranha carcasses found in local lake
18/04/2019 The Environment Agency has been called in to investigate the mysterious presence of two piranha carcasses that were discovered floating in a Doncaster lake. |
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RSPCA calls for more council funding for animal welfare services
28/11/2018 Councils are being forced to cut or outsource animal welfare services, a report from the RSPCA has warned. |
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Council to stop supplying non-stunned halal meat in schools
13/07/2018 Lancashire County Council has announced it will no longer supply non-stunned halal meat to schools against the wishes of its residents. |
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Council appoints UK’s first newt officer
06/07/2018 The country’s first ever newt officer has been chosen by Central Bedfordshire Council to help protect great crested newts from developments. |
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Brexit threatens UK’s access to food safety systems, warn council chiefs
30/05/2018 Council leaders have called on Whitehall and the EU to ensure the UK's access to food safety and animal health systems remains available after Brexit. |
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Littered bottles killing millions of small mammals
27/03/2018 Up to 3.2 million shrews, voles and mice are being killed every year due to littered drinks bottles, a report from Keep Britain Tidy has revealed. |
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English councils urged to ban sky lanterns
14/02/2018 The RSPCA has called on all councils in England to follow Wales' lead and ban 'deadly' sky lanterns. |
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Council could ban office cat from town hall
13/04/2017 A town council could ban Missy the cat from its premises over concerns it is wasting staff time and could pose a health risk to visitors with allergies. |
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Council refuses zoo licence due to animal deaths
07/03/2017 Barrow BC has refused to issue a new licence to a zoo in Cumbria - where a keeper was killed in 2013 - after an inspection revealed many animals had died due to the poor conditions. |
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Academics warn LED street lighting could affect wildlife
06/02/2017 Councils’ use of LED street lighting may need to be managed to reduce its impacts on the environment, according to new research. |
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Councils to get tough on 'backstreet' puppy breeders
02/02/2017 Councils are to be given greater powers to help crack down on irresponsible puppy breeders under tough new licensing rules announced today. |
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Council defends camel parade in wake of petition
29/11/2016 A Christmas seafront parade featuring the three wise men riding real-life camels is set to go ahead despite massive opposition. |
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Councils forced to put down thousands of stray dogs due to out-of-date microchips
27/09/2016 More than 37,000 stray dogs remained unclaimed in council kennels last year, according to new figures from Dogs Trust. |
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Local authority keeps Pokemon Go players at bay
11/08/2016 A council has secured an agreement to remove Whitney Bay from the Pokemon Go game due to the distress the players were causing the seals. |
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Council bans release of sky lanterns and balloons
15/06/2016 Worcester City Council has become the latest authority to ban the release of balloons and sky lanterns from its building and land. |
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Campaigners call for tougher measures to tackle dog fighting
24/05/2016 Campaigners are calling for tougher measures to tackle dog fighting, following a six month investigation into the 'resurgence' of the problem. |
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Report shows wild animals being kept as pets
23/05/2016 More than 100 councils have issued people with licenses to keep animals such as tigers, lemurs and crocodiles on private property, a new investigation has revealed. |
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Councils asked to delay hedge cutting to protect wildlife
10/05/2016 The RSPB has urged local authorities not to cut back hedges or trees until September, warning major work can destroy habitats and nests. |
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Dog microchipping law to deliver significant savings for councils
06/04/2016 Local authorities are expected to save up to £33m a year now that compulsory dog microchipping has come into effect. |
