Issue - meetings

The harmonisation of BCP Council Pest Control services requires a policy decision on the provision of 100% fee subsidies that, under legacy arrangements, are offered only to Poole residents in receipt of qualifying benefits.

The net additional cost of extending fee subsidies to all BCP Council residents in receipt of qualifying benefits is £23,500 per annum at 100% fee subsidy and £4,200 at 50% subsidy. The recommendation therefore is to offer 50% subsidies to all residents in receipt of qualifying benefits. This would have less financial impact that could therefore be funded from within the service but would maintain subsidised pest control treatments for low income households.

Whilst removing the automatic right to 100% fee subsidy in Poole, this recommended policy would benefit low income households in Bournemouth and Christchurch where, under legacy policies, no subsidies are offered at all. Current practice allows for pest treatments to be carried out at nil fee where no responsible person can be identified or where a householder is unable to fund a treatment.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         Pest Control services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole be harmonised; and

(b)        A fee subsidy of 50% for pest control treatments relating to rodents, fleas and bedbugs be offered to residents in receipt of qualifying benefits.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Community Safety

Reason

The removal of subsidies in Poole could result in a reduction in uptake of pest control treatments and hence might leave some residents suffering the consequences of continued infestations. A 50% fee subsidy is predicted to result in a small budget impact of £4,200 which could be funded from within the service and would enable all BCP Council residents in receipt of qualifying benefits to access significantly subsidised pest control services. A 100% subsidy would result in a budget impact of circa £23,500, which could not be funded from within the service.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'I' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the harmonisation of BCP Council Pest Control services required a policy decision on the provision of 100% fee subsidies that, under legacy arrangements, are offered only to Poole residents in receipt of qualifying benefits.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the net additional cost of extending fee subsidies to all BCP Council residents in receipt of qualifying benefits is £23,500 per annum at 100% fee subsidy and £4,200 at 50% subsidy, and that the recommendation therefore is to offer 50% subsidies to all residents in receipt of qualifying benefits. Cabinet was informed that this would have less financial impact which could therefore be funded from within the service but would maintain subsidised pest control treatments for low income households.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that whilst removing the automatic right to 100% fee subsidy in Poole, this recommended policy would benefit low income households in Bournemouth and Christchurch where, under legacy policies, no subsidies are offered at all, Cabinet was informed that current practice allows for pest treatments to be carried out at nil fee where no responsible person can be identified or where a householder is unable to fund a treatment.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)         Pest Control services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole be harmonised; and

(b)        A fee subsidy of 50% for pest control treatments relating to rodents, fleas and bedbugs be offered to residents in receipt of qualifying benefits.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Community Safety