Agenda item

The EAB considered a report which presented the background to the existing pest control service provided by the Council and proposed options for the possible introduction of charging for rodent (rats and mice) treatments.  The report invited the EAB to consider the options and make a recommendation to the Executive regarding charging in relation to rats and mice treatments to ensure the EAB’s involvement in considering the options for future service provision.

The options proposed and considered in the report were:

·             Option 1 - Continue to offer a contracted out Pest Control treatment service with free rodent treatments for all residents in the Borough.

·             Option 2 - Continue to offer a contracted out Pest Control treatment service but introduce charges for rodents with concessions for users in receipt of qualifying benefits.

·             Option 3 – Continue to offer a contracted out Pest Control treatment service but introduce charges for all pest control services including rodents without any concessions.

·             Option 4 –Discontinue the pest control treatment service at the end of the current contract on 30 June 2021.

Officers recommended Option 2 as it delivered a saving whilst continuing to maintain support for residents in receipt of qualifying benefits.  Option 4 which proposed the most significant change was also not discounted by officers as it delivered the most significant guaranteed saving.  Option 2 was put forward as a saving from this service area as there was a need for the Council to make a number of financial savings as part of the Future Guildford programme.  Possible future unitary authority status in Surrey had been proposed since the options had been developed and could also have financial implications for the service.

The following points arose from related questions, comments and discussion:

·             Charging for rodent treatment services would not have a significant impact on the Council’s General Fund budget as any saving would fall into the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account, which had a deficit of approximately £2,500 in 2019/20 in relation to this service.  Although the deficit had been higher in previous years according to service demand, this amount was not considered to warrant the introductions of fees.

·             Any charging concessions for people living on low incomes in receipt of qualifying benefits should equate to 100% discount.

·             The list of qualifying benefits needed to be updated to reflect the current situation.

·             The qualification for a discount for people in receipt of State Retirement Pension was questioned as this related to the majority of people in time and clarification was sought.

·             It was possible that the introduction of charges would dissuade some people from seeking rodent treatment services and this would exacerbate infestations and the associated health risks, particularly during the Coronavirus pandemic.

·             The current contractor administered discounts for people in receipt of qualifying benefits.

·             As the joint rodent treatment contract between Guildford, Woking and Surrey Heath Boroughs was due to expire in June 2021, it was suggested that, if the two other boroughs were in agreement, a 12 month extension of the contract could be sought in order to provide an opportunity to gather information to inform future service delivery in the light of possible unitary reorganisation in Surrey.  A benchmarking exercise involving other Surrey boroughs / districts would also assist with decisions around future service provision and charging regimes.  There would be cost and charging implications if Guildford Borough individually procured a service contract.

The EAB agreed the following recommendations for submission to the Executive:

·             The decision regarding the rodent treatment contract be deferred pending the gathering of information regarding the financial implications of residents in receipt of benefits utilising the service, the likely cost of a new contract and the possible impact of the reorganisation of Surrey into one or more unitary authorities.  If possible, the current contract should be extended for 12 twelve months whilst this information is collected and analysed to inform future contractual arrangements.

·             In the meantime, the Council should continue with the EAB’s preferred Option 1.

·             In the event that the Executive does not support the continuation of Option 1, as an alternative, the EAB seeks the implementation of Option 2 amended to allow residents in receipt of qualifying benefits to receive the service free of charge.  The list of qualifying benefits should be updated to ensure that it does not exclude anyone who would otherwise be entitled to receive the service free of charge.