Local government performance framework
NI 190 - Achievement in meeting standards for the control system for animal health
The Animal Health National Indicator (190) is to be introduced in April 2009.
This indicator reflects one of the strategic outcomes within the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for the delivery and enforcement of animal health and welfare to agreed standards and, further underpins the recent reviews of enforcement undertaken by Eves and Rogers,; the former seeking improvements in delivery standards and the latter recommending that animal health should be a national enforcement priority owing to the economic risk of disease not being identified.
At present local authorities, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have a Framework Agreement for the delivery of services in animal health and welfare. This Agreement was introduced following the 2001 FMD outbreak when it was recognised that benchmarks were needed for the enforcement of animal health legislation encapsulated within a more joined up delivery approach
Following the introduction of this indicator, the performance of local authorities will be assessed against the standards set down in the Framework Agreement. The Agreement is currently being reviewed by Animal Health, LACORS and Defra and it is expected that consultation will take place from early summer thereby enabling the indicator to be fully developed and ready for piloting (if authorities wish to) during the autumn.
Page published: 8 April 2008