Cyfarfod y Grŵp Gweithredu'r Gwaharddiad ar Rasio Milgwn: 5 Mehefin 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 Chas Coalition
Sarah Carr - Veterinary surgeon

Secretariat 

Caitlin Doyle – Welsh Government Official

Welsh Government support

Kate Frawley - Senior Companion Animals Policy Manager

Observer

James Morris - Head of Animal Health & Welfare, Welsh Government

1.1 Dr Emily Blackwell welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Allan Dallimore and Dr Tim Parkin sent their apologies.

2.1 Previous meeting minutes were reviewed and agreed with no amendments.

2.2 Action points were reviewed:

March

Action 1: Complete

Caitlin Doyle to share WISERD information and explore WG funding frameworks.

Action 2: Draft prepared, not yet sent

Dr Blackwell to write to GBGB to invite them to join the Group.

Action 3: As above

Dr Blackwell to request details from GBGB on their rehoming capacity in the letter.

Action 4: Outstanding, will be revisited

All to suggest organisations for inclusion in the MOU list.

3.1 Welsh Government has received the group’s first report.

3.2 Officials are currently reviewing the recommendations, preparing advice for the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, and intend to publish the report.

3.3 Richard Brankley noted that phasing out racing at Valley would have financial implications for both Valley and SIS Ltd. This will need to be taken into account when determining the approach to bringing the changes into force.

3.4 Officials have identified the recommendations relevant to government and will provide a formal response to these.

3.5 There is no fixed timeline for a response. It was noted that a new Cabinet Minister is now in post, which may affect timings, as his responsibilities are being balanced alongside the new Cabinet’s first 100-day priorities and other urgent commitments.

4.1 The Cabinet Minister has asked the Group to provide a roadmap to implementation at the earliest opportunity. This should describe an indicative timeframe of what is to come.

4.2 The roadmap can serve as the foundation for the next report, due in Autumn 2026, and does not need to specify a coming into force date.
Action 1 – The Group will draft a roadmap for implementation to share with the Cabinet Minister at the earliest opportunity.

4.3 Dr Blackwell asked the Group whether they wished to hold a vote during the meeting on a coming-into-force date. James Morris noted differing opinions and concerns amongst the Group and offered a view that this may be premature and could instead be addressed once the Group had received additional information on impacts, and that an immediate decision was not necessary. This was noted and agreed by the Chair.

4.4 Dr Blackwell thanked members of the Group for supplying information on track closures in the UK and greyhound racing bans in other countries. This has been compiled into a summary table of timelines for closures and bans, including, where available, the numbers of employees and dogs affected in each case. This data will be used to inform the Group’s recommended coming-into-force date.

Trainer survey results

5.1 While initial findings indicate inconsistencies with information supplied by GBGB, the sample size was small, and results should therefore be interpreted with caution.

5.2 A deadline of the end of July 2026 has been set for any new or updated responses to the trainers’ survey. Katie Bennison agreed to encourage trainers to complete the survey by this deadline.

5.3 Dr Gaines proposed recirculating the survey to allow trainers who have already completed it to review and, if necessary, revise their responses in light of the Oxford track’s closure.

Future of site discussions

5.3 No further discussions have taken place between Valley and the local authority regarding the future of the site to date. Katie Bennison will seek to arrange a meeting with local authority representatives in due course.

Action 2 – Katie Bennison to meet with local authority representatives to discuss potential future uses of the site.

Invitations to the Group

5.4 It was proposed that a trainer from Valley be invited to attend a future meeting to provide valuable insight.

Action 3 – Katie Bennison to identify and invite a suitable trainer to attend a future meeting.

5.5 WG officials will seek advice on whether the Cabinet Minister should be consulted before Dr Blackwell writes to GBGB to re-invite them to join the Group.

Action 4 – WG officials to seek advice on Ministerial clearance for Group invitations.

Employment assistance

5.6 WG officials have engaged internal employment support teams to provide support to staff at Valley, where required.

Action 5 – 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.

5.7 Katie Bennison asked whether examples of where this has been successfully implemented could be shared.

Action 6 – Caitlin Doyle to share examples of previous Welsh business closures and the support provided with Katie Bennison.

Welfare of dogs

5.8 Nothing further was raised under this item.

6.1 Dates for the July, August and September meetings were shared with the Group.

Actions log

Action 1

Allocated to all

The Group will draft a roadmap for implementation to share with the Cabinet Minister.

Action 2

Allocated to Katie Bennison

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

Action 3

Allocated to Katie Bennison

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

Action 4

Allocated to WG officials

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

Action 5

Allocated to Kate Frawley and Caitlin Doyle

Kate Frawley and 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

Allocated to Caitlin Doyle

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