Pest control businesses from Blaenau Gwent should be given the chance to bid for the council’s pest control contract in future, a councillor has said.
At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s community services scrutiny committee this week, extending the current pest control contract was looked at by councillors.
Public protection service manager David Thompson explained that a decision to extend the current contract with Rentokil to March 31, 2023, had been taken.
Due to changes made in the contract, the council will pay Rentokil £59,793 next year – less than the £61,000 paid this year.
Cllr Malcolm Day said: “The buzz word for regeneration now is the foundation economy. Rentokil is a major company and the money it takes off us will be spent outside the borough.”
Mr Thompson explained that the council had gone through the procurement framework process for local authorities.
After the council received complaints from residents about rats, due to the problems associated with rubbish and waste collections, Blaenau Gwent reintroduced pest control in 2016/17.
The current contract is for free rat infestation treatments for all residential properties.
Other treatments, including mice, bed bugs, cockroaches and fleas, are available but cost of £58.70.