Pest control within local authorities is radically changing due to the financial cuts. But how and where? Pest has pulled together the currently available information and aims to keep a log of further changes. Your help is needed.
At Pest we have drawn together all the information we have collected this calendar year. This has either been gleaned from press articles, websites or from personal contact. We summarise below the changes we are aware of.
Our aim is to keep this log as up-to-date as possible. To provide the industry with a central record of what has changed. But you – our readers – are in the field and know at first-hand what is happening.
Please let us know and we can add the details to the record . Email the editor with your information – click here or phone on 01509 233219. You will not be personally identified in any material recorded.
Councils where rates for pest control services have either been introduced
or significantly raised
A number of councils have introduced (or significantly increased) charges for pests which were previously treated either for free, or at a nominal rate.
The range of pests treated has frequently been reduced to the key public health pests (rats, mice, bedbugs and cockroaches).
Rats remain the exception. Treatment costs range from either free, or at a reduced rate, ranging to a full commercial charge. Concessions do usually apply.
Amber Valley
Bristol City Council
Camden Council
City of York Council
Crawley Borough Council
Derby City Council
Epping Forest District Council
Falkirk Council
Liverpool City Council
London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Manchester City Council
Middlesbrough Council
New Forest District Council
Newport Council
Oxford City Council
Reading Borough Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Sheffield City Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Test Valley Borough Council
Waltham Forest Council
Winchester City Council
Contracting out
Some councils have this year completely contracted-out all their pest control services to a private contractor.
Epping Forest District Council contracted to Rentokil
Hart District Council (currently in tender process)
London Borough of Bromley contracted to SKD Environmental
London Borough of Suton to Monitor Pest Control
Mid Suffolk District Council contracted to MITIE
North Kesteven District Council contracted to Pest Express
Total cop-out
Some councils have effectively washed their hands of pest control. Callers are referred to Yellow Pages, a trade association such as BPCA or NPTA or supplied with a list of local contractors.
Basildon Council
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (except rats if on benefit)
Brentwood Borough Council
Carmarthenshire District Council
City of Lincoln
Cornwall Council
East Staffordshire Borough Council (from April 2012)
Kingston on Thames Council
Torridge District Council
Vale of White Horse District Council
Worcester City Council
Change of working practices
Some councils have radically altered their structures to save costs.
At Liverpool City Council, Environmental Health has ceased to be an entity and has become part of Neighbourhood Services and staff numbers reduced by 50%. Treatments for rats & mice remain free for householders. Wasps and ants will be treated for a charge. No service will be offered for fleas, bedbugs or cockroaches.
South Staffordshire and Stafford Borough Council poling services
People changes and moves
With these council changes there has come considerable movement of staff, including the loss of some of the most experienced and respected individuals within the industry.
Due to Manchester City Council downsizing, Dave Oldbury, group manager of pest control services, elected to take early retirement.
Bristol City Council. Richard Bevan has relinquished his pest control activities and becomes manager for, parks estates, play, cemeteries and crematoria, although he is retaining chairmanship of the Western Pest Liaison Group and continuing as a member of NPAP.
Adrian Greaves has left the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
John Leader has opted for voluntary redundancy from the London Borough of Hackney.
Dave Coleman at the London Borough of Camden has had his ‘position deleted’
Paul Fury at the London Borough of Enfield leaves in mid August as his post was deleted.
David Clapham previously principal environmental health manager with Bradford City Council has retired and is now a Principle Associate with RH Environmental.
Bob Howard from the London Borough of Ealing has left and has set up his own pest control business.