Agenda item

Grass Cutting

Minutes:

Documents Considered:

·                     Document – Road Verge Management in Powys

 

Issues Discussed:

·                     Grass cutting in Powys was initially delayed due to staff shielding but is now underway. The service is provided by a combination of in-house staff and contractors. The cutting of grass in cemeteries, urban and rural verges are tendered out, amenity areas such as libraries, housing estates, parks and Council offices are undertaken by in-house teams.

·                     Cemetery grass cutting is unchanged and all have been cut at the same time using contractors. Urban verges, are due for a cut in May, July and September. There has been a trial this year of a safety cut, to reduce the extent cut, and to respond to Covid-19 allowing people to avoid each other when out walking. This has been successful and may be continued in future.

·                     There has been agreement with towns and voluntary groups not to cut certain areas, which could be promoted in other areas.

·                     Amenity areas such as housing estates, these cuts did start late due to Covid-19, but this is now back on schedule. Rural verges which are cut annually, the cutting of verges on B and unclassified roads has commenced.

 

·                     Questions:

Housing estates, a service charge is paid by tenants for grass cutting. As the service started last is there a possibility of a rebate being paid to tenants.

The service is provided on behalf of the Housing Service. Where all the cuts are not possible then other services might be offered in winter such as cleaning moss off footpaths.

Within urban areas where there has been significant growth recently is an assessment taking place of where there has been such significant growth.

Within speed limits, the teams will undertake checks on safety visibility and will cut for safety but will leave other grass uncut to assist biodiversity.

There has been a noticeable improvement in the cutting and avoiding wild flowers. In urban areas are there more opportunities to develop biodiversity areas and are there any good examples which could be used as examples.

Housing estates are one of the locations which are being considered for biodiversity sites. Presteigne is a good example of a successful scheme which could be utilised elsewhere.

The HGSS Contracts and Programmes Manager was complimented on the road management document. Could the details of the cuts for each category be circulated to the Committee.

Yes.

If community and other groups assessed other areas for biodiversity schemes would there be a concern by the service that it could be inundated by requests. As a result of Covid-19 there have been a number of advantages which should be retained. Could these be listed and circulated to the Committee.

Yes the information can be circulated. Due to Covid-19 the public have been accepting of changes, including more biodiversity schemes.

Any groups are encouraged to contact their Town or Community Council in the first instance about biodiversity schemes.

Are you confident about the arrangements with contractors, that the number of cuts are being delivered.

Cemeteries are 14 cuts a year, and there has been positive feedback about this service. Rural areas use local contractors and this was tendered this year. The number of cuts required is being delivered.

Is there scope for the service to look at other issues such as removing footpaths.

The Service would look at more environmentally friendly ways of doing this. Housing estates last year had an improvement in footways. An assessment of estates has been completed and a schedule of work will be drawn up for the winter period.

The Corporate Director commented that it was necessary to have a mix of in-house staff and using contractors to provide the service and that it was felt that the current mix worked well.

Herbicides, is it being used at all currently. Is it used on footpaths or is it the intention to phase its use out completely.

A total droplet system is used around crash barriers or to avoid the need for strimming. Welsh Government also insist on spraying kerbsides on trunk roads once a year. Staff are trained in the use of herbicides, and there is no wide spread of the spray as would have happened previously. The Service will use something other than herbicides where possible.

 

Outcomes:

Action

Action By / Completion Date

Corporate Director to discuss the issue of whether the Housing Service would be offering a rebate to tenants on estates where the full grass cutting schedule was not completed with the service and report back to the Committee.

NB / WR

BP to circulate facebook link of the Presteigne biodiversity scheme to Members

BP / WR

Details of the grass cutting schedule for each category be circulated to members of the Committee

BP / WR

Details of the advantages which the Service has identified since the pandemic to be listed and circulated to the Committee

BP / WR

 

 

Outcomes:

·                     Noted.

 

Supporting documents: