MORE businesses involving animals will come under Swindon Borough Council's regulatory control councillors have learned.

A report to Euclid Street's Licensing Committee described how a new law, The Animal Welfare Regulations, 2018 will increase the number of activities including animals that will need a licence from the borough council.

The report said: "Currently performing animals are only registered; this will now also require an inspection before a premises or person can be licensed.

"Another example is "selling animals as pets" in the course of a business. Previously this was only for trading of animals but it now encompasses a breeder selling large numbers of offspring or smaller numbers but for a higher profit margin.

"The threshold for the breeding of of dogs in order to be considered a business will also be lowered."

Councillors were told that the new regulations also make home boarding and day care for animals an activity that must be licenses. Swindon council already does license such premises so that will not have an effect on the work it does.

The report warns that making more activities licensable and changed into how premises inspections will be made means "this work will be extremely labour intensive for the next few months at least."

It added: "It should increase revenue and ensure more compliance with animal welfare regulations as well as assurance for the public when buying an animal, hiring a horse, boarding their pet or attending a display."

The regulations will apply this month.

Councillor Brian Mattock, vice chairman of the committee said: "The report was just informing us of the changes that were coming due to new legislation