To receive a written update from Naomi Markham, Waste Strategy Manager, on grass cutting.

For follow-up questions, email outdoor.facilities@rbwm.gov.uk

The Forum was presented a written summary, which was sent out with the agenda, from Naomi Markham, Waste Strategy Manager, who was unavailable to attend the Forum meeting.

Councillor Wilson wished that the update included information on the communication strategy. He stated that he had been involved in collecting resident feedback on verges, grass areas and hedges not being cut, and that it was very difficult to find information on the timing. He stated that there needed to be better clarity on when grass areas and hedges would be cut.

The Chair mentioned that a number of residents had complained about the frequency of cutting as well as the quality. She also mentioned that the Lead (Cabinet) Member for Environmental Services was not available to attend as well but she informed that they were reviewing the contract for grass cutting.

Councillor Knowles commented that there needed to be much more clear guidance and clarity on management of grass cutting and hedge trimming.

Councillor K. Davies stated that the Borough was seeking to cut verges in the last couple of months. She added that some verges were conservation wildlife verges and thus needed to be left alone. There were around 15 roadside reserves across the Borough which were designated as conservation verges. She informed that the Climate and Environment Strategy (passed in 2010) sought to double the conserved verges by 2025. As part of this, new taller signs would be installed to overcome the high-grown grass.

In response to Councillor Davies’s comments, John Webb, a resident, questioned whether the objective should be to get the contract working properly rather than introducing new activities for a contractor to manage, highlighting that some verges were cut in an unsatisfactory manner. He also commented that Councillor Davies wanted to introduce some extra wildlife verge signs in spite of there being street signs which needed repairing and had been reported. Overall, he conveyed that the Council should concentrate on what had not been done yet before introducing new activities and projects.

Councillor Davies responded that the wildlife conservation verge signs were extending the number of verge signs and would also be an extension of the biodiversity agenda in general rather than starting something new.

Chris Wheeler informed that, like road markings, that damaged and defective signs would be replaced. He added that there was not a lot of money for new roads signs. He also stated that if a defective sign was reported and there was a reply that it would not be repair, there should be an explanation as to why in a reply.

The Chair highlighted that there were road signs which were unreadable and that it was stated that it would be fixed within three months. She also informed that there was a missing one-way and that drivers had wrongly turned right on Springfield Road, adding that this would be a safety issue. Essentially, most defective signs had been reported but they had not been repaired. Chris Wheeler responded that if defective signs had been reported but they had not been addressed, he requested for this to be emailed to highways@rbwm.gov.uk. He stated he would then arrange for officers to investigate, adding that unreadable signs should be dealt with. 

Councillor W. Da Costa Wisdom speculated that there was a breakdown between the contractor’s work, the wording of the contract, contract management and that there were staffing issues at RBWM. He suggested that the grass cutting agenda item should be brought back to the next Forum meeting with the relevant officers attending.

Councillor Wilson commented that if the contractor’s work had deteriorated and the Borough was paying them more, it raised the question about what the Council had got in return from the contractor.