Agenda item

The select committee to receive a report outlining the council’s arrangements for grass cutting in 2022.

The report was introduced by Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member Transport Waste Street Scene and Flooding. He emphasized the need for balance between areas requiring a lot of trimming and areas to facilitate growth and wildflowers.

Adrian Hampton, Head of Highway Operations, outlined the key points covered in the report. This included that the main highways cut would be in August but that reviews would take place throughout. He gave examples of Local Councils such as Pewsey, Devizes and Salisbury that now run their own grass cutting arrangements as part of Wiltshire Council’s drive to enable local communities to set their own priorities. He explained that to maintain wildflower verges the cut and collect process that is needed produces a bit more carbon, so there is sometimes a compromise between biodiversity and carbon reduction. The main focus of the report was to manage the right land in the right way.

Officers responded to a number of questions and comments from the Select Committee which included the following areas:

·       The junction at Knook joining the A36 from B390 was raised as an area that had been reported multiple times as needing reactive cutting to improve visibility. It was clarified by Officers that this area was maintained by National Highways and the reports were passed on to them to action.

·       Cllr Parks thanked officers for the report but raised concerns about rural verges on narrow country roads and what the financial implications were for highways service plan to manage them. It was explained that there would be financial implications but tracking the exact change in cost was not possible right now due to the change in contractor and change in traffic management costs.

·       The possibility for Parish Councils to buy highways services through CATG’s to cut verges more on the rural roads. The Head of Highway Operations advised caution over top up services due to a need to understand the implications of extra work on carbon emissions.  

·       The frequency of hedge cutting if fast growth causes issues. It was clarified that hedges are cut more than once a year if highways flag it as a safety issue. In terms of footpaths, rights of way are a reactive service and respond to reports through the app.

·       Details of how the service delegation works with Town Council’s taking on responsibility for the grass cutting service on their land, not including highway land.

·       Calls for improved engagement with Parish Councils, specifically in rural areas where the cutting of verges can have an impact on safety for pedestrians.

·       Whether there was a way to prevent double paying for maintenance of green spaces as some end up paying precept and costs for a management company. Officers clarified that this related more to planning but that they would pass on those comments.

Resolved:

That the committee:

a)    Note the grass cutting arrangements for 2022 and the background to the provision.

b)    When receiving future updates that they include information on engagement with local communities, rural parish roadside grass cutting and the overall carbon impacts and costs.