Cambridge's pest control service saved as Labour starts work at city council

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Thursday 12 Jun 2014 7:40 PM

Written byCHRIS HAVERGAL

Labour fulfilled one of its manifesto pledges within hours of officially taking control of Cambridge City Council but was taken to task over its plans for tackling poverty and anti-social behaviour.

The Liberal Democrats decision to shut the authoritys pest control service had been a key issue during the election campaign and Labour, which won a majority in last months polls, reversed that resolution in one of its first actions at todays annual meeting.

The party went further, announcing that charges for eradicating mice would be scrapped.

Cllr Peter Roberts, the executive councillor for environmental and waste services, said pest control was a basic service that people expected a council to provide and closing the team would have left infestations unchecked.

Cllr Roberts told the meeting: Very hard decisions have to be made over the next few years and we accept that, sadly, that will mean people have to lose their jobs, but we are not willing to play with what we think is a public health issue.

The Liberal Democrats abstained, with spokesman Cllr Mike Pitt acknowledging the electorate had spoken but arguing the decision had been forced by funding cuts.

Earlier, Labour chief Cllr Lewis Herbert was elected as the councils new leader and the partys programme was endorsed.

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Cambridge's pest control service saved as Labour starts work at city council