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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.