Cyfarfod y Grŵp Gweithredu'r Gwaharddiad ar Rasio Milgwn: 16 Gorffennaf 2026

Members present

Dr Emily Blackwell (Chair): Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Bristol Veterinary School
Katie Bennison: Valley Greyhound Stadium 
Scott Fryer: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Vanessa Waddon: Hope Rescue & Cut the Chase Coalition 
Gareth Walters: Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
Richard Brankley: SIS Ltd representative
Dr Sam Gaines: RSPCA & Cut the Chase Coalition
Allan Dallimore: Caerphilly County Borough Council

Secretariat 

Caitlin Doyle: Welsh Government Official

Welsh Government support

Tom Henderson: Head of Animal Welfare Policy

Observer

Louise Greenhouse: Welsh Government

1.1 Dr Emily Blackwell welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Apologies were received from Sarah Carr and Dr Tim Parkin.

1.3 Tom Henderson was introduced to the group as Welsh Government’s new Head of Animal Welfare Policy.

1.4 Members were informed that Kate Frawley has moved to a new role within Welsh Government and has therefore stepped down from the group. The group formally recorded its thanks for her valuable contributions.

2.1 Previous meeting minutes were reviewed and agreed with no amendments.
2.2 Action points were reviewed:

June

Action 1: ongoing

The group will draft a roadmap for implementation to share with the Cabinet Secretary.

Action 2: completed

Katie Bennison to meet with local authority representatives to discuss potential future uses of the site.

Action 3: completed

Katie Bennison to identify and invite a suitable trainer to attend a future meeting.

Action 4: completed

WG officials to seek advice on Ministerial clearance for group invitations.

Action 5: outstanding

Kate Frawley/Caitlin Doyle to meet again with internal employability support colleagues to discuss potential support for staff at Valley and to offer them the opportunity to attend a future meeting.

Action 6: completed

Caitlin Doyle to share examples of previous Welsh business closures and the support provided with Katie Bennison.

2.3 Tiffany Blackett will attend future meetings as the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) representative.

2.4 Katie Bennison has identified Anna Jeffery as a potential representative for trainers at Valley Greyhound Stadium to join the group. This opportunity will be considered further, ahead of the next group meeting.

2.5 Dr Blackwell asked Welsh Government to share information on support provided for Welsh business closures with the wider group.

Action 1: Welsh Government to circulate Welsh business closure information to the group via Objective Connect.

3.1 The group identified several key priorities, including securing signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing minimum welfare standards, identifying all organisations involved in rehoming greyhounds, developing a rehoming campaign, and ensuring appropriate support arrangements are in place for employees affected by the closure of Valley Greyhound Stadium.

Action 2: Group members to identify and consider relevant organisations for inclusion in, and as signatories to, the Memorandum of Understanding.

3.2 Further information is required from the GBGB on its rehoming partners and whether support could be provided towards neutering costs through bond payments before greyhounds are transferred to rehoming organisations operating outside the Greyhound Retirement Scheme.

Action 3: Continue engagement with the GBGB regarding rehoming arrangements for greyhounds affected by the ban.

4.1 The group’s first report has been recirculated to members for review and comment. Once feedback has been received, the report will be resubmitted to Welsh Government for onward sharing with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Resilience and Sustainability.

4.2 The group agreed that its Autumn report will include an implementation roadmap. The report will outline the practical steps required to deliver the ban and set out the proposed sequence of key activities leading up to implementation.

Trainer survey

5.1 Two additional trainer surveys have been completed, bringing the total to seven trainers and 270 greyhounds. This now exceeds the group’s original estimate of 269 greyhounds that would be affected by the ban.

5.2 Trainers continue to report a range of intended next steps, including continuing to race in England and rehoming some of their greyhounds.

5.3 Updated information from Valley Greyhound Stadium indicates that 18 trainers and approximately 364 active greyhounds are currently expected to be affected by the ban.

Action 4: Katie Bennison to encourage completion of the remaining trainer surveys by the end of July.

Action 5: Dr Gaines to contact Forever Hounds to support and encourage completion of trainer surveys by trainers.

Future of site discussions

5.4 Preliminary discussions have taken place between Valley Greyhound Stadium and the local authority regarding potential uses of the site.

5.5 It was noted that the site is subject to constraints, which may influence the nature and scope of any future development.

5.6 Identifying a suitable alternative use for the site and obtaining the necessary statutory permissions could take 12 to 18 months, although this remains indicative.

5.7 Discussions on the future use of the site are ongoing.

Social, cultural and economic impact

5.8 Welsh Government officials have been engaging with employability support colleagues to establish appropriate support arrangements for staff affected by the closure of Valley Greyhound Stadium.

5.9 It was agreed that employability support colleagues will be invited to attend the next group meeting.

5.10 Allan Dallimore highlighted the importance of aligning Welsh Government support with locally delivered employment assistance provided by the local authority. Opportunities to coordinate this support will be explored further.

Action 6: Welsh Government officials to invite employability support colleagues to attend the next group meeting.

Welfare of dogs

5.11 Nothing further was raised under this item.

6.1 The group was originally established for a 12-month period. Advice will be provided to the Cabinet Secretary seeking approval to extend the group for a further 12 months.

6.2 The terms of reference will be revised to reflect updated timelines and the group’s ongoing role. The updated terms of reference will be circulated to members ahead of the next meeting for review and agreement.

Action 7: Welsh Government officials to update the group’s terms of reference and circulate for approval at the next meeting.

7.1 Nothing further was raised under this item.

Actions log

Action 1

Allocated to Welsh Government

Officials to circulate Welsh business closure information to the group via Objective Connect.

Action 2

Allocated to all

Group members to identify and consider relevant organisations for inclusion in, and as signatories to, the Memorandum of Understanding.

Action 3

Allocated to all

Continue engagement with the GBGB regarding rehoming arrangements for greyhounds affected by the ban.

Action 4

Allocated to Katie Bennison

Encourage completion of the remaining trainer surveys by the end of July.

Action 5

Allocated to Dr Gaines

Contact Forever Hounds to support and encourage completion of trainer surveys by trainers.

Action 6

Allocated to Welsh Government

Officials to continue engagement with employability support colleagues and extend an invitation to attend the August meeting.

Action 7

Allocated to Welsh Government

Officials to update the group’s terms of reference and circulate for agreement at the next meeting.