New fee for pest control

Services covered by the fee include mice and rats, wasps, fleas, ants, cockroaches and bed bugs.

The fee applies to homeowners as well as tenants in private rented and housing association properties.

However, council tenants will not be charged; the fee will be paid on their behalf by the council’s housing service.

At last month’s council budget meeting it was decided a fee in order to raise around £200,000 a year.

Councillor Michael McPake, Convener of the Environmental Services Committee, said: “North Lanarkshire is the only council in Scotland currently offering a free pest control service, which has led to significantly more requests for services than other similar authorities.

“The council took the decision to introduce a flat fee for these services as part of its budget process, following a 3.6 per cent cut in funding from the Scottish Government.

“However, it will ensure residents continue to receive a high quality pest control service at a cost which is still considerably below the average in other areas.”

The council’s pest control officers treat and control a variety of pests, including wasp nests.

They aim to respond to all enquiries relating to rats, wasps, fleas or bed bugs within two working days, and all other requests within five working days.