Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Property services setting out the Council’s arrangements for 2016/17 in providing the grass cutting service on Devon County Council’s highway verges.

The Group had before it and NOTED a report * from the Head of Housing and Property Services which set out the Council’s arrangements for 2016/17 in providing the grass cutting service on Devon County Council’s highway verges.

The Estates Manager outlined the contents of the report, explaining that a budget of £15k income had been set prior to the results of the consultation process regarding parishes contributing to the maintenance of highway verges within their Parish.

The Officer explained that the value of the reduced area of highway grass verges for those town and parishes that did not wish to contribute had been estimated at £36k and that staffing levels had been reduced by one full time equivalent. The reduction would be agency staff so had not incurred redundancy costs. When adding contributions from town and parish councils the 2016/17 budget position had been improved by a further £34k. 

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The varying levels of contribution from Devon County Council;

·         Closed church yards;

·         The potential to generate income by taking on contracting work for areas such as parish playing fields;

·         The need to rationalise equipment.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.