Common use of Grass Cutting Clause in Contracts

Grass Cutting. 1.1. As part of budget savings LES introduced new working arrangements during spring 2011; the arrangements have been tailored to ensure they have as little impact on residents as possible. A ‘three weekly zone’ working arrangement has been introduced; each neighbourhood services area is divided into three zones, and the team carry out open space grass cutting and litter clearance in one zone over a one week period before moving onto the next zone. It takes three weeks to complete the cycle before the first zone is revisited. Not all services are subject to the three weekly cycle and arrangements are in place to respond more rapidly to urgent requests such as clearance of broken glass, etc. Further details of the revised approach are included in Appendix 4 and 5 1.2. Grass cutting operations are undertaken every 15 working days (except in extreme inclement weather) between the months of April and October by a range of machinery that includes tractor gangs, ride-on mowers and pedestrian operated equipment. 1.3. During the grass maintenance period, LES will aim to produce an even grass finish that provides an attractive, neat and tidy appearance. 1.4. All areas around housing stock managed by The Gateshead Housing Company should be deemed as high amenity and as such should be kept to the same level of maintenance. 1.5. The majority of grass cutting operations do not include the removal of cuttings. Frequent cutting of the grass removes the need for them to be collected. Grass clippings shall be allowed to lie where they fall, with the exception of hard areas and footpaths. Any cuttings that fall onto paths or other hard surfaces will be swept or blown onto adjacent grassed areas on the same week where weather permits. (Same day removal may not achievable in wet conditions). 1.6. Sheltered housing - grass cuttings are not normally collected or removed from grassed areas due to environmental sustainability reasons. In circumstances where there are large accumulations of grass, for example, following a period of prolonged wet weather additional care will be taken to ensure the finish is tidy and that grass is not left in large piles or on footpaths. To maintain a tidy and safe appearance close attention will be paid to the quality of work during grass cutting operations within Sheltered Housing Units with cutting taking place on a five day cutting cycle. These properties are identified in Appendix 6 to the Service Agreement; however this does not include the sheltered bungalow schemes. 1.7. Grass around fixed items for example bollards, lampposts will be strimmed or weed killed to maintain a tidy and levelled appearance. Moveable obstructions shall be removed to facilitate cutting, and replaced in the exact same position on the same day. Should there be any health and safety concerns regarding temporary removal of objects then these concerns should be raised with the relevant Area managers and agree an appropriate action to resolve the situation. Renumber below

Grass Cutting. 1.1The GMC specifies that the grass it to be kept between the heights of 20mm and 90mm at all times, and there are normally 18 visits scheduled for the summer. As part The mowing is carried out on a ‘cut and fly’ service, and this means that the grass clippings are not routinely removed, but are allowed to rot down naturally. Only in exceptional situations will the Council order the clearance of budget savings LES introduced new working arrangements discharged clippings. Visits should be completed approximately every 2 weeks, though grass cutting may be suspended during spring 2011; periods of very wet weather. The gardeners will make every effort to minimise any damage to the arrangements have been tailored grass, but the topography of the sites means that some minor scalping can be inevitable in isolated areas. The grass will usually grow back very quickly where damaged, but severe gouges or excessive damage should be reported to ensure they have the Council for investigation. In periods of drought the grass cutting service may be suspended until such time as little impact on residents as possible. A ‘three weekly zone’ working arrangement has been introduced; each neighbourhood services area is divided into three zonesthe lawns resume growth, and the team carry out open space grass cutting gardeners are deployed to other works on site. Shrub beds in the communal gardens are to be kept generally weed free at all times, though a certain small coverage is permitted in the Contract, and litter clearance in one zone over this is achieved via a one week period before moving onto the next zonecombination of hand weeding, hoeing and minimal use of herbicide. It takes three weeks There is a programme of mulching to complete the cycle before the first zone is revisitedhelp supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide a decorative finish to borders. Not all services are subject to the three weekly cycle and arrangements are in place to respond more rapidly to urgent requests such as clearance of broken glass, etc. Further details of the revised approach are included in Appendix 4 and 5 1.2. Grass cutting operations are undertaken every 15 working days (except in extreme inclement weather) between the months of April and October by a range of machinery that includes tractor gangs, ride-on mowers and pedestrian operated equipment. 1.3. During the grass maintenance period, LES will aim to produce an even grass finish that provides an attractive, neat and tidy appearance. 1.4. All areas around housing stock managed by The Gateshead Housing Company should be deemed as high amenity and as such shrubs should be kept to the same level of maintenance. 1.5. The majority of grass cutting operations do not include the removal of cuttings. Frequent cutting of the grass removes the need for them to be collected. Grass clippings shall be allowed to lie where they falltidy, with the exception of hard areas and footpaths. Any cuttings that fall onto paths or other hard surfaces will be swept or blown onto adjacent grassed areas on the same week where weather permits. (Same day removal may not achievable in wet conditions). 1.6. Sheltered housing - grass cuttings are not normally collected or removed from grassed areas due to environmental sustainability reasons. In circumstances where there are large accumulations of grass, allowances made for example, following a period of prolonged wet weather additional care will be taken to ensure the finish is tidy and that grass is not left in large piles or on footpaths. To maintain a tidy and safe appearance close attention will be paid to the quality of work during grass cutting operations within Sheltered Housing Units with cutting taking place on a five day cutting cycle. These properties are identified in Appendix 6 to the Service Agreement; however this does not include the sheltered bungalow schemes. 1.7. Grass around fixed items for example bollards, lampposts will be strimmed or weed killed to maintain a tidy and levelled appearance. Moveable obstructions shall be removed to facilitate cuttingtheir natural form, and replaced are usually pruned during the period from November to March. Shrubs growing underneath windows must be kept below the window line, and those growing by pathways must not be an obstruction or obscure sightlines. On occasion it is necessary to carry out hard pruning, or reductions, of shrubs in order to achieve this, or to bring a plant to a more manageable height, and whilst it can often look much worse immediately after, it is for an overall long term gain. Hedge trimming is carried out during the exact same position on summer months, once in May/June and again in September/October, and the same day. Should there be any health and safety concerns regarding temporary removal of objects then these concerns ▇▇▇▇▇▇ should be raised neat and tidy, and with a pleasing appearance immediately following the relevant Area managers and agree an appropriate action to resolve the situation. Renumber belowpruning.