CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL PEST CONTROL POLICY. April 2015

CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL PEST CONTROL POLICY April 2015

CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIFICATION General Policy Chiltern District Council takes note that it has a statutory duty to ensure that its district is kept free from rats and mice under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949; and that it has a statutory duty where satisfied that a premises is verminous to ensure that steps are taken by the owner/occupier to remedy the condition. It acknowledges that it has a statutory duty to ensure that its own land is kept free from rats, mice and vermin. Chiltern District Council notes that it has no statutory duty to provide any pest treatment service, whether free or at charge, but considers that it is most cost effective in achieving its aim and meeting its statutory duty by offering such a service. AIMS Chiltern District Council aims to: - keep its area as free as is reasonably practical from pests of public health significance in order to minimise the potential spread of disease and to satisfy its statutory duties with respect to the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 and the Public Health Acts. This is the primary aim. - provide a service for public health pests and other common pests likely to cause considerable nuisance or severe distress to residents of its district. - ensure that the public are aware of the service offered and what they can expect from it. Terms: Domestic properties will include: - houses, bungalows, annexes, flats etc.; - garages; - sheds and outhouses; - gardens; - caravans (but not holiday sites, or the grounds of communal sites). But will not include: - any of the above where commercial activities are carried out, including rented dwellings accommodating more than one household; - communal areas such as bin stores or land where this is the responsibility of a management company; - residential homes; - where horses are kept; - where significant numbers of animals or birds are housed or kept. TREATMENT OF RATS AND MICE A service for the treatment of rats and mice will be available to a domestic property where it is occupied or temporarily unoccupied. Treatment will usually be in the form of poison baits, although occasionally cages, traps or dusts may be used at the discretion of the contractor. Residents should note that occasionally the Contractor will consider that treatment is more effectively carried out in an alternative location.

- the initial treatment survey to be available within 48 hours of contacting the Contractor, or at a later date if preferred; The Contractor will do its best to deal with urgent cases more quickly than this, where possible. - to have a full survey of the property, carried out, normally accompanied by treatment in the form of poison baits; - at least one follow up visit to determine the effectiveness of treatment; - further follow up visits until the rodents have been eliminated; - for adjoining properties to be surveyed if also likely to be affected, subject to the agreement of the occupier; - be informed of where baits have been placed and to be kept informed of how the treatment is progressing (whether in written note or verbal form); - to be advised on safety regarding the treatment and to be left an information sheet about the treatment including what action to take in an emergency; - that all baits will be removed at the end of treatment; - that all rodent dead bodies found on the property will be removed by the contractor, except when they are inaccessible; - to be offered advice about "hygiene" and/or proofing to prevent further infestations; - to be treated courteously and professionally; - to have any reasonable complaint investigated. Residents should note that the Contractor, following approval by Chiltern District Council, reserves the right to refuse or terminate the treatment at any time, the most common reasons being: - the occupier has refused to agree to the methods of treatment thought appropriate by the contractor; - the occupier refuses to carry out rodent proofing to buildings, which is needed to prevent recurrence of the problem, or where this would assist in treatment; - the occupier refuses to co-operate with safety precautions in respect of rodenticide use; - the occupier refuses to supply fixed baiting points if needed for safe treatment and/or it is not safe to apply poison/other treatment; - the occupier refuses to keep foodstuffs (including waste) in a way which is inaccessible to rodents; - the occupier refuses to remove or tidy areas of harbourage; - the premises do not fall within the service specification. Residents should note that: - technicians will not carry out any building or other works, apart from treatment. Where floor boards, tiles etc. need to be lifted this is the customer's responsibility; - where deemed necessary by the Authorised Council, formal notices under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act or the Public Health Acts may be served, to require occupiers to treat or take steps to eradicate vermin; - although the Contractor will do its best to eradicate an infestation there are some circumstances where it is not possible to guarantee this; - the service will only be provided where the owner/occupier has consented to or requested the treatment or survey and that this agreement is recorded in writing; - the Contractor will not be able to offer specific times for treatments. He will normally, but not always, arrange a morning or afternoon visit. Although all efforts will be made for treatment to be carried out on the appointed day, this cannot be guaranteed.

TREATMENT OF NUISANCE PESTS OTHER THAN RATS AND MICE Defined for these purposes as: Bed bugs, Cockroaches, Fleas, Wasps, Bees, Flies, Squirrels and Ants. A service will be made available to residents for the treatment of these pests, on the basis that they have a significant effect on the community because of their invasive nature and because of the social and personal distress caused by their presence. The Contractor, following approval of the Council, reserves the right to refuse the service where pre-treatment advice has not been followed. Where treatment is not offered, names and addresses of local contractors will be provided although no recommendations will be given. Where needed, action under the Public Health Act 1936 or other Acts will be taken. A charged service will be available to domestic property where it is occupied or temporarily unoccupied. The form of treatment is at the discretion of the contractor, but may include the use of baits and insecticidal sprays or dusts. Residents should note that for treatment to be effective block treatments with adjoining premises may need to be arranged, and that treatment may need to be ongoing for long periods in some situations. - to pay a call out charge, where appropriate, which includes the treatment; - to have a full survey of the property to determine the extent of the infestation. Treatment may not always be commenced on the first visit; - to have all affected rooms treated, where safe to do so; - in the case of bedbugs, that treatment will include cracks and crevices in rooms and furniture including mattresses. Sheets and other bedding and clothing likely to come into contact with people will not be sprayed; - to have follow up visits to treat and monitor the effectiveness of treatment; - Residents should note that these visits may be spread over several weeks to be effective; - that adjoining premises be surveyed if necessary and that treatment should be coordinated with these premises; - to be given information by the Contractor or Council about what needs doing prior to and following treatment, to ensure it is effective; - to be kept informed about the method of treatment and how it is progressing (in written note or verbal form); - to be advised about safety aspects of the treatment and left an information safety sheet; - to be treated courteously and professionally; - to have any reasonable complaint investigated. Residents should note: - that although the Contractor will do its best to eradicate an infestation there are some circumstances where it is not possible to guarantee this;

- the service will only be undertaken where the occupier/owner has consented to or requested the treatment or service and that this agreement is recorded in writing; - the Contractor will not be able to offer specific times for treatments. He will normally, but not always, arrange a morning or afternoon visit. Although all efforts will be made for treatment to be carried out on the appointed day, this cannot be guaranteed; - that the Contractor may refuse to treat if instructions have not been followed. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS Treatment of Bed Bugs Residents must: - thoroughly vacuum their property prior to treatment (paying particular attention to cracks and crevices in furniture and room) and dispose of any vacuum bags; - strip beds prior to treatment and remove any clothing/toys etc. from floors and furniture, and disconnect electrical equipment; - launder sheets/bedding in a hot wash, or dry clean, immediately prior to the treatment; - ensure that adults who suffer from Asthma, animals, fish and children are not in rooms to be treated at the time of treatment; - not vacuum for 10-14 days after treatment; - note that the Contractor, following approval of the Council, may refuse to treat if the above instructions have not been followed. Treatment of Fleas Residents should note that fleas will be seen for a few days after treatment and should therefore wait 10 days before asking for a re-treatment; Immediately prior to treatment residents must: - vacuum up floors, furniture, including cracks and crevices, especially where pets are likely to have been and throw away the vacuum bag; - remove equipment/toys etc. from the floor, and disconnect electrical equipment; - ensure that adults who suffer from Asthma, animals, fish and children and are not in the property at the time of treatment; - treat any cats and dogs for fleas and wash their bedding in hot water or destroy bedding; - ensure that foodstuffs or sensitive materials are put away. After treatment residents must: - ensure that children do not crawl over treated floors without washing hands afterwards, or lick treated surfaces; - not vacuum for up 10/14 days after treatment; - keep children, pets, and asthma sufferers out of the treated rooms until the treatment is dry (normally a few hours). Treatment of Glis-Glis (Glis) Treatment will be in accordance with the conditions imposed under the terms of a Licence issued by Nature England. This is currently for trapping and humane destruction of Glis. Should the licence be withdrawn the service will not be available.

- that the contractor collects any trapped live Glis on the same or following working day; - that the trap/cage will be set and baited by the Contractor; Residents are expected to: - return the cage or trap following treatment; - check the cage or trap daily to see if a live Glis has been caught and if so telephone the Contractor as soon as possible, Glis must not be released back into the wild; - if live Glis are found to be trapped out of working hours to provide water and suitable food for the Glis until such time as the Glis is collected; - pay the deposit on request before a cage or trap will be left. Return the cage or trap after six weeks following the last Glis caught or if unsuccessful. Treatment of Squirrels Treatment will either be using baited cages or humane trapping. - that the contractor collects any trapped live squirrel on the same or following working day; - that the trap/cage will be set and baited by the Contractor; Residents are expected to: - return the cage or trap following treatment; - check the cage or trap daily to see if a live squirrels have been caught and if so telephone the Contractor as soon as possible, Squirrels must not be released back into the wild; - if live squirrels are found to be trapped out of working hours to provide water and suitable food for the squirrels until such time as the squirrel is collected; - pay the deposit on request before a cage or trap will be left. Return the cage or trap after six weeks following the last squirrel caught or if unsuccessful. Treatment of Wasps - the wasps to be destroyed within 3 days of treatment. If not, a re-treatment will be offered free of charge. In the rare cases where a re-treatment is found to be unsuccessful a refund will be given; - to be refused treatment if bees not wasps are found to be the problem. In such cases a call out charge will still be made; - to be refused treatment if the nest is situated in a hazardous situation. In such cases a call out charge will not be made; - that a booking will not be accepted or that treatment will be refused or postponed where the nest is inaccessible, or unsafe to access without special equipment or where it is higher than gutter level of a 2 storey house and it is only accessible from outside; - to see a small amount of residual spray or powder around the nest and underneath it, and to be offered precautionary advice on this; - to be asked to remove any sensitive equipment/objects under the nest which might become contaminated with dust or spray;

Residents should note that: - the technician will not carry out any building works of any nature needed to gain access to the nest; - the nest itself will not be removed (wasps do not occupy old nests in following years).

VISIT SPECIFICATION Visit Rats 1st Initial survey and treatment Further visits as required to eradicate Mice 1st Initial survey and treatment Further visits as required to eradicate Cockroaches 1st Initial survey and treatment including monitoring traps 2nd Visit 4 weeks to check monitoring traps and retreat Further visits as required to eradicate Bed bugs 1st Initial survey and treatment Follow up 10-14 working days to check effectiveness 2nd Glis glis 1st Initial survey and set trap or cage Within 24 hours of report to remove trapped or caged live Glis maximum Up to 5 revisits per treatment can be made to the original or existing trap/cage. After the 5 revisits or after 6 weeks, the trap/cage will be removed or retained upon further payment Squirrels 1st Initial survey and set trap or cage Within 24 hours of report to remove trapped or caged live squirrels. maximum Up to 5 revisits per treatment can be made to the original or existing trap/cage. After the 5 revisits or after 6 weeks, the trap/cage will be removed or retained upon further payment Fleas and Flies 1st Initial survey and treatment No further visit unless re-treatment Ants 1st Initial survey and treatment - note complete eradication is not guaranteed No further visit Wasps 1st Treatment No further visit unless re-treatment