Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
Stray Dog & Re-homing Services Contract
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Executive Decision Notice – 15 April 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE
PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by
Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon:
Title of decision TENDER OF THE STRAY DOG & REHOMING SERVICE
CONTRACT
Reference No. 1385
Date of decision Tuesday 15 April 2025
Call-in expiry date Thursday 24 April 2025
Relevant Select
Committee
Residents’ Services Select Committee
Relevant Wards All
Decision made
Cabinet Members
making the decision
Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of the Council
Cllr Eddie Lavery , Cabinet Member for Community &
Environment
Decision Approved
That the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Community & Environment:
1. Accepted the tender from SDK Environmental
Services Ltd for the provision of a stray dog and
rehoming service to the L ondon Borough of
Hillingdon for a three -year period from 1 st July 2025
to 31st March 2028 at the estimated value of £240,035.
2. N oted the increase in fee payable to reclaim a dog
that has been collected as a stray was increased from
£70.00 to £150.00 for the 25/26 financial year,
approved as part of the 2025/26 budget.
Reason for decision Following a competitive tender process carried out in
accordance with the Council's Standing Orders, SDK
Environmental Ltd (‘SDK’) is recommended as the provider of
the services. The bid submitted by SDK Environmental Ltd is
the most financially advantageous and complies with the
Council's specifications and requirements.
The stray and lost dog service operates on a 24 hour, seven
days per week basis and includes transportation to licensed
kennelling facilit ies, collection of statutory fines and
Executive Decision Notice – 15 April 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
administrative duties (such as taking front line calls and issuing
statutory notices on behalf of the Council).
With the recent introduction of XL Bullies to the list of dogs
banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, there has been
an increase in the number of these being abandoned which will
have an impact on the operational costs of the new contract.
Subject to Cabinet Member approval, this recommended
contract award will provide the Council with a single supplier
with sufficient resources, technical knowledge and experience
to deliver stray dog and kennelling services in accordance with
statutory requirements.
It will also ensure that the Council
complies with its statutory duties to provide a dog warden/stray
dog service.
The previous contract ended on 30 September 2024 an d a
short-term rolling extension is in place until , and subject to,
approval for a new contract.
The yearly cost of the contract is estimated to be c. £80,012
which is based upon volumes and care of stray dogs from June
2022 – May 2024. This cost could be offset by approx. £7,178
if fees and charges are increased in line with the
recommendations below. This would result in a net monthly
cost of approx. £6,070.
It should be noted that the proposed charging model submitted
by SDK is broadly similar to their current charging model which
costs the Council £5, 750 per month on average so it is
expected that the costs will remain similar. Although, t he
proposed costs are estimated based on previous volume o f
activity and will be entirely dependent on variable fees i.e. days
in kennels, veterinary care, number of dogs rehomed etc.
Alternative options
considered and
rejected
Option 1 – Cease to provide the service
Ending the stray and lost dog collection service in the Borough
would mean the Council fails to meet its statutory obligations
under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (s149), the
Control of Dogs Order 1992, and the Dangerous Dogs Act
1991.
Option 2 - Bring the service in-house
Officers considered the setting up an in- house operation but
determined it was not feasible. Creating this service internally
would involve hiring skilled personnel, acquiring equipment,
and providing vehicles and kennelling facilities, all of which
would require substantial initial investment. Currently, this
option is not cost-effective.
Executive Decision Notice – 15 April 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Option 3- Reduce hours of operation to 9-5
Officers also considered reducing the hours of operation to 9
am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding evenings, weekends,
and bank holidays. They clarified this alternative option with
both bidders to determine any commercial benefit to the
Council.
Whilst there is no statutory requirement for an out of hours
collection service for stray dogs, there is a risk to the reputation
of the Council in not providing one, as in declining to do so
relies on the goodwill of residents to capture and transport
strays to a designated acceptance point. Between August
2024 and December 2024, there were 16 collections between
the hours of 07:00am and 15:00pm, and 27 collections
between 15:00pm and 07:00am.
Switching from a 24-hour service might lead to higher costs, as
the Dog Warden will try to reunite the dog with its owner on-
site and only take the dog to the kennels if necessary.
Whilst both bidders confirmed the call out rate is the same for
‘in’ and ‘out’ of hours, providing an ‘out of hours’ reception point
would involve significant adjustments to existing ‘out of hours’
infrastructure to accommodate the high volume of stray dogs,
including additional staffing, enhanced security, and safety
measures for employees whereby one of the bidders is unable
to provide an ‘out of hours’ reception point.
Reducing the service to business hours may place a burden on
residents, expecting them to transport stray dogs themselves.
This could discourage prompt action, leaving strays to roam,
heightening public safety risks, increasing emergency
response costs, an d potentially harming the Council’s
reputation in animal control.
In summary, while a 9-to-5 model with a reception point could
simplify certain aspects, it introduces significant logistical,
financial, and reputational concerns, ultimately making this
option impractical.
Classification Part II - Members’ Only and Not for Publication
Link to associated
report
That this report be declared as exempt from publication as it
involves the disclosure of information in accordance with
Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A)
to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), in that the
report contains information relating to the financial or business
affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding
that information) and that the public interest in withholding the
information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.
Executive Decision Notice – 15 April 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Relevant Officer
contact & Directorate
Dan Kennedy - Corporate Director- Homes & Communities
Any interest declared
by the Cabinet
Member(s) /
dispensation granted
N/A
Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in
[Internal Use only]
When can this
decision be
implemented by
officers?
Officers can implement Cabinet Member decision in this notice only
from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:
5pm on Thursday 24 April 2025
However, this is subject to the decision not being called in by
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee. Upon receipt of a
valid call-in request, Democratic Services will immediately advise
the relevant officer(s) and the decision must then be put on hold.
Councillor scrutiny
call-in of this
decision
Councillors on the relevant Select Committee shown in this notice
may request to call-in this decision. The request must be before the
expiry of the scrutiny call-in period above.
Councillors should use the Scrutiny Call-in App (link below) on their
devices to initiate any call-in request. Further advice can be sought
from Democratic Services if required:
Scrutiny Call-In - Power Apps (secure)
Executive Decision Notice – 15 April 2025
This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk
Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The
Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access
to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.
This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive
decision, including links to the reports where applicable.
If you would like more information on this decision, please contact
Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email:
democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including
Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group
Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the
Council’s website.
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