Christopher Richardson v Oldham Council: [2025] UKUT 248 (AAC)
Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber decision by Judge Smith on 24 July 2025.
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Judicial Summary
The Appellant’s application to renew his licence to sell animals as pets, under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, was refused by the Respondent as it was not satisfied that the Appellant would adhere to the licence conditions. The First-tier Tribunal dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the Respondent. Permission to appeal was granted by the First-tier Tribunal on the question of whether the Respondent should have prepared policy documents to interpret the statutory guidance on licensing, the contents of which was disputed by the Appellant and gave rise to the decision to refuse his licence application. Appeal dismissed – no material error of law in the First-tier Tribunal decision. No obligation on local authority to produce guidance to interpret Statutory Guidance.