Issue - items at meetings - Review of Grounds Maintenance - Council housing land

Report of Strategic Director Place (copy attached).

(1)       That the new Grounds Maintenance Policy which has been developed by the Estate Services Monitoring Group (ESMG) be approved.

(2)               That a rolling programme of site by site grounds maintenance reviews be approved.

(3)       That the continuation of current arrangements with City Parks for grounds maintenance services be approved.

57.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Head of Housing and Social Inclusion which set out a proposed Council Housing Grounds Maintenance Policy.  The policy had been developed using the key themes that residents raised in the pilot areas about how the grounds maintenance service should be delivered. The Grounds Maintenance Policy was one of a range of policies that would sit beneath the Housing and Social Inclusion Neighbourhood Policy.   

57.2    RESOLVED - (1)      That the new Grounds Maintenance Policy which has been developed by the Estate Services Monitoring Group (ESMG) be approved.

(2)               That a rolling programme of site by site grounds maintenance reviews be approved.

(3)       That the continuation of current arrangements with City Parks for grounds maintenance services be approved.

Report of Strategic Director Place (copy attached).

51.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Housing and Social Inclusion which stated that Social Housing Regulatory Framework had set National Standards for Social Landlords to have policies that outlined how neighbourhoods would be looked after.  The Grounds Maintenance Policy was one of a range of policies that would sit beneath the Housing and Social Inclusion Neighbourhood Policy.  The report set out the key service improvements that had come out of the Ground Maintenance review following partnership working with residents. 

51.2    The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation on all three policies submitted to the meeting.   The presentation had been circulated to Members at the meeting. 

51.3    Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to a suggestion in the presentation that residents at Wellington Road had wanted to get involved in a grass cutting scheme.  He asked about insurance cover for the council, if a tenant or leaseholder were involved in an accident after taking on work on behalf of the council, and having taken part in risk assessment and training.     

51.4    The Housing Manager replied that he had made enquires with the insurance section.  They had not gone into details yet but had said that if the scheme were to take off they could provide cover under the council’s insurance.   However, there would have to be risk assessment and adequate training carried out.

51.5    Tom Whiting asked whether grass cutting was the most expensive item in ground maintenance.  The Housing Manager explained that shrub beds had the highest unit price and grass cutting the cheapest unit price.  He was not aware if the council spent more overall on grass cutting than shrub maintenance.  The Chair informed Mr Whiting that this information would be sent to him.  

51.6    Mr Whiting suggested that prostrate grasses were grown instead of vertical grasses in order to save on expenditure.  The Chair replied that she had heard that one type of prostrate grass could be quite invasive and cause problems, however some might be ok.  She suggested that Mr Whiting emailed her with details She would like to see actual costs.   .    

51.7    Heather Hayes expressed concern that the grass on many high banks was not cut, as a special grass cutter was required.    She asked if the reason no action was taken was due to cost.   

51.8    The Housing Manager reported that there were restrictions to working on banks due to health and safety.  Officers were trying to address these problems.  Meanwhile, some areas were being allowed to turn into scrub in order to attact wildlife.    The Parks and Green Spaces Operations Manager reported that Health and Safety legislation had tightened up over the years.  No charges were made for banks not that were not cut.

51.9    Barry Kent mentioned that Ferris Machines could cut grass on banks.  The Parks and Green Spaces Manager confirmed that some banks in the city could be cut with Ferris Machines. 

51.10  Ted Harman complained that a grass cutting machine had been driven too fast over the pavements.  The Chair suggested that Mr Harman should phone the council immediately if this happened again. 

51.11  Roy Crowhurst expressed concern that the Estate Development Budget was being spent on tree cutting.  The Head of Housing and Social Inclusion explained that pruning work was carried out under the Grounds Maintenance Budget.  Any additional projects such as new planting would be addressed through the Estate Development Budget.  

51.12  An indicative vote was taken by tenants’ representatives.  8 tenants voted for the recommendations.  Three tenants abstained from voting.  

51.13  RESOLVED – (1) That the contents of the policy and relevant policies and procedures are noted.

(2)       That the Cabinet Member for Housing be recommended to agree the proposed Council Housing Neighbourhood Policy as set out in appendix 1 of the report.