Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department works closely with all local authorities and will continue to do so, in relation to overall staffing requirements. All staffing requests are examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and in the context of the affordability of the staff resource.
The Control of Horses Act 1996 is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.