Cllr Peter Roberts, who is poised to become the City Council’s Executive Councillor for Environment, Waste and Public Health, has laid out his plans to restore the City Council’s pest control service. The service was due to be ended in July 2014 after the previously Liberal Democrat Council controversially removed the funding in its 2014/15 Budget plans in February 2014.

Cllr Roberts had promised in January that the Labour Group would reverse the cut if they took control of the Cambridge City Council following the local elections on 22 May, saying that the funding could be found from cutting the routinely under-spent training, seminars and conferences budgets by 25%.

Cllr Roberts said: “We are delighted to be able to carry through our promise to keep this important service for residents. The planned cut was short-sighted and took no account of the significant expertise of our frontline staff and the value for all residents of accessing a free service to help keep their neighbourhoods clear of pests like rats.

“I will be bringing a motion to the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 12 June to reverse the Liberal Democrat budget decision in February.

 “This is a difficult time for local government as the continuing harsh cuts to our funding from Westminster mean savings must be found but Labour is determined to protect key services for residents as far as possible and ensure we cut costs internally as well.”