South Lakes Safari Zoo might have to close its doors to the public after inspectors raised a number of concerns.
Founder David Gill submitted an application to re-new the licence in January this year.
Inspectors have recommended a block on the reissuing the licence after a problems with the management structure and the keeping of some creatures were found.
"It should not be lost on the committee that the failure to meet any condition is a criminal offence... and it is the council who have chosen to try and work with the zoo at each and every stage".
"The management fail to take any responsibility for any failings at the zoo, choosing instead to single out employees upon whom they lay blame."
"The financial stability of the zoo is concerning."
4.25pm The meeting has drawn to a close for today. The councillors took a firm line of questioning to the zoo staff, but it is thought there are many more questions to be answered.
Concerns still remain over the confusion within the management structure of the zoo, and who will implement the proposed changes the zoo needs to make.
There is confusion over what role David Gill will do to ensure the zoo meets the requirements needed for the zoo to be granted a new licence.
Karen Brewer said that the management was "in a predicament" because they are in the process of removing David Gill from the management of the zoo, however the current licence for the zoo is still in his name.
Councillors are seeking assurances from the new zoo management that their management is "robust" in line with the government's standards on zoo practice.
The Chairman wanted assurances of the steps taken to make sure Mr Gill had no further involvement in the zoo, he said "an owner would not let a business go in a direction he did not want it to go."
Miss Brewer's response was that: "I think David Gill knows he doesn't have a choice." "It's his business, his house, his money, and if you don't grant a licence and we can't move forwards
4.20pm The Chairman of the committee raises concerns over leadership at the zoo. He is concerned there is one person at the top overriding other managers.
3.45pm The licencing committee hears that David Gill is sole shareholder of the zoo.
3.30pm The inspectors are recommending the licence is not renewed because David Gill is still clearly directly managing the zoo and continues to act as a potential danger to the public.
3.20pm Council officers have recommended the licensing committee the renewal of the zoo's licence.
2.50pm Despite additional submissions from the zoo, the inspectors are still recommending the licence renewal be refused. David Gill would need to apply for a new licence within six months for approval or the zoo must close.
1.30pm The meeting is now back under way.
11.30am The council says the zoo owes £15,939.18 in unpaid inspection fees. The council has launched county court proceedings to recover the amount owed.
11.15am The licensing committee has looked at some of David Gill's Facebook comments and the council commented that " ".
10.25am In its statement, the zoo says there has been " " and that the whole team takes equal responsibility.
10.10am A statement from the zoo says David Gill gives them a uniqueness but they are worried about losing him and the energy ideas and business expertise he brings. The statement says .
9.50am The zoo says it is in a Catch 22 situation - they can't hire staff because of the threat to remove the licence but the zoo needs to recruit new people to comply with condition 39 which says new management is needed.
9.45am The committee has heard that despite inspectors telling David Gill to step down, the special inspection found he was "still clearly running the zoo and had a profoundly negative impact on the welfare of the animals kept and ".
9.35am The licensing committee is hearing inspectors read through their notes.
9.10am The meeting is set to begin. The meeting room at Barrow Town Hall has been described by our reporter as a "full house" with few empty seats. David Gill, the zoo's founder, is not in attendance but marketing and development manager Karen Brewer is.
A special inspection was carried out on May 23, 24 and 25 and had to be called because of recommendations made during November's inspection which pulled the management structure into disrepute.
Barrow Borough Council's adviser and DEFRA appointed inspector, Matthew Brash, said a breach of condition 39 was grounds to deny the licence application- a decision which was 'not taken lightly'.
Condition 39 states a 'robust' management system must be in place.
Inspectors had initially commended Mr Gill for his decision to step down but at the last licensing committee hearing in February and March, 2016 it was felt he was overriding decisions and of 'deep concern' to inspectors.
The zoo was granted time to make changes to their staffing structure before May's inspection.
Reports from the inspection revealed a significantly high mortality rate for its mammals, birds and reptiles.
From January to December 2015, 146 animals died and and during the first four months of 2016 a further 61 creatures died.
The zoo's own records highlighted 19 of these deaths were preventable.
Findings also discovered that many creatures - but monkeys especially - were suffering injuries stemming from fights breaking out in the free-ranging habitats.
Staff acknowledged the high levels of accidents and injuries in the report but also said they were unsure of how best to tackle this.
Questions were also raised regarding how animals could die from hypothermia or emaciation while in the care of the zoo.
Formerly known as South Lakes Wild Animal Park, the attraction opened 22 years ago and was spread out over 12 acres of land attracting around 200 visitors per day.
The site now occupies nearly 50 acres of land and has over 1,000 animals.
It has a turnover of around £3 million a year.
Earlier this year the zoo pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety Act after Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked and killed by a Sumatran tiger in May 2013. She had been carrying out her cleaning and feeding duties in a corridor of the tiger enclosure.
Under the current system, a licence stays in force until the application for a new one is withdrawn or disposed of. If the licence application is refused, the zoo will need to close its doors, but does have the right to appeal.
The licensing committee will meet from Tuesday July 5 until Thursday July 7 to discuss the findings.
There are currently more than 350 licensed zoos across the UK.
To make sure animals and staff are safe the government imposes strict rules and conditions on owners.
There are three different types of condition: statutory, 'other' which sets extra standards and 'additional' which deals with with failures.
Any zoo with more than 12 conditions is a cause for concern.
Out of 165 zoo licences which were reviewed, more than 12 had conditions attached to them.
To put it into context, Blackpool zoo has six and Flamingo land 13. On March 10, 2016 the South Lakes Safari zoo had 28 additional conditions, 39 in total. Over the years, the attraction has never had fewer than 24.
- officers were unhappy with current management and staffing
- serious concerns over animal welfare- creatures experincing injuries from fights and suffering trauma and stress
- public safety concern as bites from monkeys and birds were common and inspectors witnessed a Cotton topped Tamarin jump onto a toddler in a pram and try to steal food
- risk of escape
- unsuitable homes and environments for some animals
The current licence was granted to the zoo's founder David Gill on June 8 2010, for a 6-year period. It was thought members of staff had been working hard to raise the standards of the zoo, especially the veterinary department in the hopes of re-applying.
The zoo has six months to re-apply for a fresh licence. If they do not meet the conditions, they will have to close. If they meet the conditions it will be business as usual.
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