HAMBLETON District Council cabinet's decision to scrap charges for rodent control is gratifying in two respects.

Firstly, it reverses a decision taken earlier this year to introduce the £25 charge. Readers of this newspaper's letters page will recall the outrage expressed by residents in Thirsk about the charges, imposed at a time when the town appeared to have a particular problem with rats.

Pest and rodent control is one of those core council services the public expect to be funded out of their general council tax contributions, especially given that it is a public health service as much as an individual service.

The imposition of the charge came at a time when many householders were grappling with the hefty increases in council tax imposed this year. It was as bad a piece of timing as could be imagined.

Secondly, it is a good example of democratic local government and shows how scrutiny committees can find an effective role for themselves in the new cabinet-style system.

Hambleton's cultural and social scrutiny committee was alerted to the problem by public protest and proceeded to examine, analyse and pronounce on the issue in a fashion which the cabinet duly accepted yesterday. Committee chairman John Coulson can justifiably feel pleased with himself and his committee colleagues.

It is a good decision for Hambleton District Council as a whole, as it demonstrates to those who believe the authority is a rather remote and unfeeling body that it recognises legitimate public concern and responds to it.