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11
Dec 2023
Council increases some pest control fees in Harrogate district
North Yorkshire Council has increased the cost of some of its pest control services.
The cost of paying the council to treat ants has gone up from £56.40 to £87 and the cost of treating wasps has risen from £66 to £73.
However, council fees for tackling rats, mice and grey squirrels have been pegged at £108, £98.40 and £175.20 respectively locally.
It is part of a move by the new council to harmonise pest control fees in the county.
North Yorkshire Council replaced seven district and borough councils, including Harrogate, in April.
Four of the previous councils — Harrogate, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Ryedale. — treated pests, which is a discretionary service local authorities are not obliged to provide.
According to a council report, Harrogate Borough Council was the only one to make a profit from pest control. The other three councils subsidised the service.
Harrogate Borough Council spent £102,100 on the service in 2022/23 and generated £153,600 — a profit of £51,500.
Now the council has set a new set of fees, which it estimates will generate a £13,000 profit this year.
The report says:
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