The garden maintenance scheme aims to help tenants who are elderly, disabled or medically unable to maintain their garden and do not have any other members of their family who are able to maintain their garden for them.
Joining the scheme
Each February, a letter is sent to all current members of the scheme. This letter details what is included and the cost for the year. The scheme is only for Council tenants and you can apply by contacting your Housing and Support Officer using Housing Online or by phone.
We do not recommend joining the scheme after August as you will only receive the remaining cuts, which may be as few as three. If you need garden maintenance assistance around this time, discuss it with your Housing and Support Officer for further information.
Costs
We charge an annual administration fee of £90. This fee is non-refundable and you must pay it before any maintenance work is carried out.
There is now no need to have a Garden Waste Permit if you have one brown bin. However, if you require more than one brown bin for your garden waste, a permit will still be required to be displayed on all bins. We will make arrangements for permits to be delivered to you at no additional cost.
If you have any questions about the scheme please contact your Housing and Support Officer.
What is included in the scheme?
The grass cutting schedule starts in the first week of April and occurs fortnightly until the end of September or the beginning of October. One hedge cut is then carried out between September and November.
Grass cuttings
The scheme includes a maximum of 14 grass cuts, approximately once every two weeks, starting from the first week of April until the end of September or the beginning of October.
We pick up and remove grass cuttings from all gardens in the scheme.
Brown bin and garden waste permits
If you don't have a brown bin, tell your Housing and Support Officer, who will arrange for one to be delivered. Unless you have more than one bin, garden waste permits are no longer needed on brown bins for collection. If you do need a permit, one will be provided at no extra cost.
Weed removal
We spray all weeds twice a year.
Grass edges
We strim the edges in your garden three times a year.
Hedge maintenance
The scheme includes one hedge cut between September and November. However, shrubs are not included. Any shrub maintenance requires approval from your Housing and Support Officer and is considered additional work.
Missed cuts
Sometimes unforeseen events like bad weather, equipment issues, or staff shortages can affect our schedule. We aim to visit each garden within the fortnightly schedule but cannot provide an exact date of attendance.