Verbal report from James Perkins, Interim Head of Environmental Services.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced the next item, which was clarified would be looking at the Grounds Maintenance Service and not the grounds maintenance contract.
The Panel was advised that due to the constraints on the Council’s finances, the Service had developed a strategy which focussed its grounds maintenance resources on ensuring parks were ready for the school holiday and maintaining cemeteries. This program was ending which would provide the opportunity to refocus the service on other areas such as housing. The Interim Head of Environmental Services confirmed that housing managers, directors and officers had been unaware of the impact of the changes and the service cuts, which has led to some internal inquiries. The Chair expressed concern about the approach of the Council and highlighted how this may impact the relationship between the Council and its tenants.
In response to concerns raised about the length of the grass in areas that had not received regular cuts, assurance was given that this would be addressed and the Council was aware that the grass may conceal things such as broken glass, drug paraphernalia and dog waste which was unpleasant for tenants. It was also acknowledged that the decisions made regarding the grounds maintenance service had made things such as litter picking more difficult due to the length of the grass.
It was acknowledged that the service had mostly been reactive, however it would be working towards becoming more proactive in future. It was also reiterated that the grass would be cut by the start of August in all of Croydon’s 127 parks, after which it would be possible to refocus resources towards providing an improved service to the HRA and highways. It was confirmed that the Council would work with residents to plan the maintenance of the grass in communal areas on housing estates and in parks.
It was highlighted that the Council had brought the grounds maintenance contract back in house in 2018, and at the time there a plan to ease the transition and minimise any teething issues arising, however the pandemic had forced these plans to be put on hold. Subsequently, there had been a decision to reduce the grounds maintenance service by allowing the grass in certain areas to meadow, in order to help to ease the Council’s financial predicament.
It was also highlighted that issues had arisen in the past due to the contractors using equipment that was of a poor quality. The Council currently had its own staff delivering the service with the same equipment, but there would be funding for new equipment in future. It was also clarified that although the Council had reduced the number of permanent staff, additional capacity was created by hiring seasonal staff, although it was acknowledged that recruitment was a challenge at present, particular for seasonal staff. It was confirmed that the service had six available teams which could be split into five teams of five or six teams of four depending on annual leave and other staff absence.
The Panel was advised that while the Council would like to avoid residents cutting the grass in their local area, there was scope for resident groups to provide assistance as long as risk assessments were conducted and resident involvement could be provided in a measured and safe manner.