Council votes to restore pest control service

Several years after Powys County Council got rid of its pest control service, councillors have voted to bring it back.

At the full council meeting on Thursday, Labour councillor Sandra Davies, seconded by group leader, Cllr Mathew Dorrance, put forward a motion to re-establish the service.

Cllr Dorrance said: “We know that our communities across Powys are suffering issues of vermin and pests.

“I’m receiving increased calls about pests in people’s homes, particularly rats and it’s causing hardship.”

Cllr Dorrance added that paying for a private contractor to deal with the problem was not an option for some people who “cannot afford” to pay for it.

Cllr Dorrance said: “Other councils like, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Gwynedd and Blaenau Gwent still run pest control services.

“Some charge, some don’t and some give discount if you’re on social security.”

He pointed out that between 2012 and 2014 when the service was scrapped it had cost in the region of £100,000 and dropped to £50,000.

With an £8 million surplus in its 2020/21 budget, Cllr Dorrance believed re-instating the service could be afforded.

“It’s the right thing for residents and our communities.”

Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Planning and Housing, Cllr Iain MacIntosh believed it was:  “irresponsible” to put a motion forward without having worked out how much it costs first.

Pest control would fall under the sphere of portfolio holder for Corporate Governance and Regulatory Services, Cllr Beverley Baynham,

Cllr Baynham said: “We did decide to cease pest control service in March 2014 and the papers show at the time there was a decreasing demand for it.

“It’s a non-statutory function, there is no legal requirement to undertake this.”

She pointed out there were several private pest control contractors in Powys and reintroducing a council-operated service would affect small businesses.

Cllr Baynham added: “We don’t have the staff to take this back on, there would need to be significant outlay on vehicles, storage facilities and equipment.”

Due to this she could not support re-instating the service.

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Aled Davies said that 10 years ago the service had cost £164,000.

He explained that this sum had fallen to less than £100,000 by 2013, but this led to “an unsatisfactory service.”

Cllr Davies also said that the £8 million surplus is a “one-off.”

Cllr Davies urged the councillors to vote against the motion and “allow”  private pest control businesses to “carry on delivering their services.”

The motion was approved by 29 votes for, 23 against and 2 abstentions.

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter