Agenda item

This cover report presents the final report from the Protection of Grass Verges Scrutiny Review and asks the Executive to approve the recommendations arising from the review.

Councillor Fenton as Task Group Chair will attend the meeting to present the review recommendations.

Resolved:  That the Executive endorse the recommendations set out in the final report of the Protection of Grass Verges Scrutiny Review as set out at paragraphs 5 to 7 (i to vii) of the cover report.

Reason:     So the Council can help address ongoing issues for a number of residents in various wards in the city.

Members considered the final report of the Grass Verges Scrutiny Review which had been undertaken to examine concerns raised about damage by motor vehicles to grass verges across the city.

Councillor Fenton, as Task Group Chair, thanked the Committee, Task Group and Officers for their work on the review which had been set up with the aim of finding how the Council could work in partnership with residents to improve and protect grass verges from damage. Cllr Fenton referred to the objectives, information gathered and feedback received and outlined the under mentioned recommendations as a first step in alleviating the problems. 

The Scrutiny Committee and Task Group had recommended that the Council:

i.          Continue to carry out its current policy to repair grass verges when reported as and when it deemed it appropriate. ^1.

ii.         Sets up a system to acknowledge and record complaints with a view to taking action against individuals and organisations where this was possible and practical. ^2.

iii.       Ensure that off-street parking provision was a consideration in the revised Local Plan. ^3.

Also in an effort to encourage drivers not to park on or drive over grass verges and reduce the amount of damage to verges across the city, EDAT and the Task Group recommended:

iv.        That the Director of City and Environmental Services:

                                                       ·            Promoted via My Account the need for a verge crossover where front gardens had be made into hard standing areas and offered residents the facility to construct a vehicle access crossing point, at their own cost. ^4.

                                                       ·            Offered reduced rates where a number of residents decided to proceed with construction of vehicle access crossing points or when other significant highways construction work was taking place in their neighbourhood. ^5.

                                                       ·            Arrange for an informative to be included in planning application documentation to reduce the risk of damage being caused to verges by contractor’s vehicles during building work and if damage was caused during the course of any work it should be repaired on completion of the work and the verges reinstated to their original condition. ^6.

v.        The Communications Team to produce a pro forma letter to further promote community and neighbourhood pride and advise that it costs council tax payers £35 per square metre to repair damaged verges, which can:

                                                         ·          Be made available to ward councillors for distribution to drivers and residents when a particular problem was identified or reported; ^7.

                                                         ·          Be circulated to residents online or by text message via the new My Account system; ^8.

                                                         ·          Form the basis of a poster to be displayed in local libraries, community centres, other public buildings and included in relevant council publications. ^9.

Furthermore, the Task Group had recommended that the Director of City and Environmental Services:

vi.       reviewed, and where appropriate amended, the existing Council policy with regard to damage to grass verges and assessed staff resources required. ^10.

vii.     produced a menu of options to be made available to ward councillors, ward committees and parish councils so that they:

                                                         ·          had an idea of the cost of various interventions that could be funded through ward budgets, such as installation of parking bays or repairs to damaged verges;

                                                         ·          could focus on areas of greatest need dependent on a consensus of support from the local community and partner agencies. ^11.

Members welcomed the recommendations and partnership approach suggested, pointing out that this was also a problem in rural areas.

Officers confirmed that the recommendations were achievable and could be implemented at minimal cost. However the main issue was for residents to feel a sense of personal responsibility and pride in their neighbourhood.

Resolved:  That the Executive endorse the recommendations set out in the final report of the Protection of Grass Verges Scrutiny Review as set out at paragraphs 5 to 7 (i to vii) of the cover report.

Reason:     So the Council can help address ongoing issues for a number of residents in various wards in the city.