Issue - meetings

Follow-up discussion following scrutiny at the 22 February 2024 meeting.

Resolved:

1.     To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

2.     That the Committee supports the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department's intention to extend the grass cutting and collection trial to the Arfon area.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and YGC, the Head of Highways, Engineering and YGC Department and the Assistant Head of Department.

It was explained that there was a statutory duty on local authorities to maintain and improve biodiversity, but there was also a moral duty on the Council to implement positively. It was noted that the Council had a responsibility as significant landowners to set an example and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems in the area. It was expressed that the work done here was a positive first step and a step on the road towards achieving these ambitions.

It was confirmed that the current figures in the report showed how the service has adapted the grass cutting arrangements, creating more surface for wildflowers to grow and encourage pollinators. It was explained that the hope, after completing the trials, was that significant areas of verges can be excluded from the current contract and included in a new arrangement of grass cutting and collecting.

However, it was noted that there would be a need to consider several factors before implementing this, including financial viability, as the Council was under significant financial pressure and was unable to afford increasing costs when implementing new arrangements. It was noted that there was a need to decide who will be delivering the work, whether the Council's internal workforce with the necessary expertise, or external contractors.

Attention was drawn to the public's response to the new arrangements, referring to the 'Nature is not neat' campaign and the fact that individuals had different views about tidiness.  The need to ensure that the changes did not lead to complaints from the public was noted.

It was explained that cutting urban verges was also part of the work, not only for safety reasons but also to improve the image of communities. In these places, grass is cut between three and five times a year, and that this was done lower to the ground. It was noted that community and town councils must pay the Council to cut grass more often, but others are eager to earmark land for wildflowers, working with the Council or asking them to do the work on their behalf.

Reference was made to the trial in Dwyfor and the work in Meirionnydd, where a report was received by a local ecologist before commencing the work with the team acting in accordance with the report. It was explained that the experience was generally positive, but problems had arisen, such as when a contractor mistakenly cut a site, leaving grass on the surface of the land, or when Welsh Water excavated over work which had previously been completed before signs could be installed. It was noted that steps had been taken to rectify the situation and lessons were being learnt.

They looked forward to the next steps of the plan, including investigations to sites in Arfon and expanding on the trials the next year, if funding was available. It was noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7