Official Information Request - 21 May 2019

Sent: Thursday, 13 June 2019 4:14 p.m.

Subject: LOGIMA request - animal control

I refer to your email of 21 May 2019 requesting the following information for the 2013/14 to 2017/18 financial years:

1. How many dogs have been registered (including multiple owner registrations).

• 2017/18 = 11,831
• 2016/17 = 11,843
• 2015/16 = 11,506
• 2014/15 = 11,304
• 2013/14 = 11,472

2. How many applications have been made for a responsible dog owner licence.

• 2017/18 = 165
• 2016/17 = 161
• 2015/16 = 123
• 2014/15 = 156
• 2013/14 = 99

3. The total revenue which has been collected from dog registration and/or responsible owner licences.

See 'Dogs / Pound Fees' in attached spreadsheet (includes dog registration, responsible owner licences, pound fees)

4. The number of fines and infringement notices issued to owners.

• 2017/18 = 675
• 2016/17 = 543
• 2015/16 = 560
• 2014/15 = 631
• 2013/14 = 566(Includes those that were issued but subsequently cancelled)

5. The total dollar value for the fines and infringement notices issued.

• 2017/18 = $192,550
• 2016/17 = $161,450
• 2015/16 = $164,300
• 2014/15 = $184,450
• 2013/14 = $158,300(Includes those that were issued but subsequently cancelled)

6. The amount actually collected from owners in relation to fines and infringement notices.

See 'Infringements / Prosecutions' in the attached spreadsheet

7. The total number of dogs that have been re-homed.

• 2017/18 = 108
• 2016/17 = 106
• 2015/16 = 133
• 2014/15 = 132
• 2013/14 = 102

8. The total number of dogs that have been brought into Council control and destroyed/ euthanised.

• 2017/2018 = 734
• 2016/17 = 866
• 2015/16 = 930
• 2014/15 = 1039
• 2013/14 = 945

9. The total spend by Council from dog registrations on systems and processes necessary to on run dog control.

See 'Operating Expenditure' in the attached spreadsheet

10. Any documents (including meeting minutes and communications) showing how decisions are made with respect to how dog registration fees are allocated and spent.

See the Funding Impact Statement contained in the 2018-2028 Long-term Plan (page 214) - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/council-publications/10YearPlans/Pages/default.aspx - which shows how the animal control activity is funded - user pays/general rates.

The 2019/20 Animal Control Fees and Charges are on the Council website - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-services/animal-control/Dogregistration/Documents/RDC-917773%20%20Rotorua%20Lakes%20Council%20Animal%20Control%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20-%202019%202020%20-%20%20document%20for%20the%20website.pdf

11.The total amount spent in each of the specified years on animal management/control.

See 'Operating Expenditure' in the attached spreadsheet

12. If there is surplus funds from revenue collected from dog registrations, where that money is accounted for in the financial accounts, and how much in each of the financial years set out above.

There is no surplus. As noted in the Funding Impact Statement, Council looks to recover 90-95% of animal control costs from user fees, with the balance recovered from general rates.

The above information is readily available. To provide further breakdown of any of the information would incur a cost for staff time (estimated at approximately 5 hours). Council is entitled to charge for this time and, as per the Ministry of Justice charging guidelines, our normal practice is to charge $38 per half hour or part thereof. Therefore to provide any further breakdown would incur a cost of $380 (excluding GST). This charge would need to be paid before the work is undertaken.

Regards