Issue - meetings

Due to the timescale and print deadlines, the recommendations of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 7 February 2024 will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Cabinet.

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 24/6 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 7 February 2024 in respect of the pest control service.

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the financial and value for money considerations and legal implications and recognised that whilst there was no statutory requirement to provide a pest control service this had to be balanced with the needs of residents, especially the availability of subsidised treatments to assist vulnerable households.  On the grounds of ensuring value for money and appropriate budget setting given the Borough Council’s financial position, Cllr Boughton proposed that expenditure should be up to the current budget subsidy identified.  This was seconded by Cllr Coffin and supported by the Cabinet.

Finally, the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health committed to exploring all options to ensure that service efficiencies were identified and that the process was easy to access.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             a pest control service where residents could be referred too and agreed treatments subsidised for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction up to the current budget subsidy from November 2024 (Option 3)  be tendered for; and

(2)             delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Regeneration and Property should a tender be unsuccessful.

(Decision Notice D240023CAB)

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 24/6 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 7 February 2024 in respect of the pest control service.

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the financial and value for money considerations and legal implications and recognised that whilst there was no statutory requirement to provide a pest control service this had to be balanced with the needs of residents, especially the availability of subsidised treatments to assist vulnerable households.  On the grounds of ensuring value for money and appropriate budget setting given the Borough Council’s financial position, Cllr Boughton proposed that expenditure should be up to the current budget subsidy identified.  This was seconded by Cllr Coffin and supported by the Cabinet.

Finally, the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health committed to exploring all options to ensure that service efficiencies were identified and that the process was easy to access.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             a pest control service where residents could be referred too and agreed treatments subsidised for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction up to the current budget subsidy from November 2024 (Option 3)  be tendered for; and

(2)             delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Regeneration and Property should a tender be unsuccessful.

The Borough Council currently offers a pest control service through the contractor Monitor and a contract is in place until 31 October 2024.  It was agreed that a full review would take place early in 2024 in order to inform the ongoing provision of this service.  This report outlines the current service and options from November 2024.

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health outlined the current provision in respect of pest control and set out a number of options from November 2024.

Details of the cost of providing the service for the last three full financial years and the estimated increased cost of the current one year contract extension was provided together with the position across Kent local authorities.    Members were reminded that it was not a statutory requirement for the Borough Council to provide a pest control service. 

Careful consideration was given to the ‘pros and cons’ of the three options detailed in the report, the financial and value for money considerations and whether subsidised treatments should be provided for those residents in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. 

RECOMMENDED*:  That a pest control service where residents could be referred to and agreed treatments subsidised for those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction within an agreed annual maximum cost to the Borough Council from November 2024 (Option 3) be tendered for.

*Recommended to Cabinet