Row rumbles on over grass cutting fiasco

A politician has demanded answers from Powys County Council after it was revealed it had been cutting the grass of local properties it no longer owns.

The council decided last week to end a service where it cuts the grass of council houses in Welshpool and surrounding communities, saving it £50,000 a year.

But it emerged that the service, which was introduced in 1996 to help older and disabled tenants, was also cutting the grass of homes that were no longer owned by the council.

Now a regional Assembly Member has asked the council to explain why it was cutting the grass of such properties, but urged to continue the service for elderly and disabled tenants who cannot cut their own grass.

Mid and West Wales Regional Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans, said: “I am very concerned on two counts. First, I am concerned about the use of public funds to maintain lawns on properties unnecessarily, and would like an explanation as to why it has gone unchallenged and unnoticed for so long.

“Second, I am concerned that this service will be withdrawn from those older or sick council house tenants who really need it."

She added: “Time and time again during our Assembly’s Health and Social Care Committee scrutiny of the Social Services and Well-being Bill we have heard that getting ‘a little bit of help’ – such as help with the garden, or minor repairs to the home – can make all the difference in terms of allowing a person to remain at home and stay independent for longer.

“We have heard how this kind of low-level support can help prevent needs escalating, and can save the Council huge amounts of money in the long term. To withdraw the service from people who actually need it would be very short sighted indeed.”

Powys council said it was difficult to justify a service which was not available in other parts of the county. Scrapping it affects 568 homes but will save the authority £50,000.

In a report, cabinet member for social services, care, health and housing Rosemarie Harris said: "The study has revealed that we are cutting grass at some properties that we no longer own.

"Furthermore, where tenants who have been assessed as requiring this service are no longer resident in the properties in question, the service has continued to be provided regardless of the current tenant's ability to carry out the works themselves."

She said there were clearly difficulties in justifying continuation of the service.

She said it was also a question of fairness in that free grass cutting was only available to tenants in the north of the county.