THERE have been calls for a Welsh council to invest in its grass-cutting teams as the lack of resources was highlighted.
Councillor Geraint Thomas had a plea for Merthyr Tydfil Council officers to invest in the grass-cutting teams at a meeting of Merthyr Tydfil’s thriving scrutiny committee on Monday, September 23, during which councillors discussed biodiversity and greenspace management in the county borough.
Cllr Thomas said: “We’ve definitely got a lack of resource in our grass-cutting, in our teams.”
He had a plea to the officers which was: “Please spend the money on the resources and the workforce rather than communications.”
Cllr Thomas said people can see when it’s looking good and when it isn’t so he’d rather the money was spent on the workforce.
A council officer said at the moment the council has four teams of three permanent staff and it used to be eight teams of five staff adding that removing grass after it has been cut is resource-intensive and they need the right equipment to do it.
A report to committee said that all managed green space throughout the county borough was at one time cut to a good amenity standard with no areas left to grow to promote wildflower and pollinator growth.
But it said that due to new legal obligations under the Environment Act (Wales) 2016 to protect and enhance biodiversity and financial constraints placed on the authority, the way the council managed its grass areas needed to change.
Since 2020 the council has received grant funding from Local Places for Nature and Shared Prosperity Funding for several significant green spaces projects including Treharris Park, Taf Bargoed Park, The Incline, and various mini projects but the report said if this grant funding stops there would only be one member of staff to deliver biodiversity initiatives.
Given the changes to legislation placing an emphasis on protecting and enhancing biodiversity the council has taken on a “differential mowing” approaching meaning it mows recreational areas such as sports pitches intensively while leaving other green spaces such as embankments and roundabouts to regenerate naturally providing habitat and food for pollinators, insects, and small mammals.
Green space that borders the highway, footpaths, and properties will have a one metre swath cut on the perimeter to soften the the appearance of the uncut grass but some areas will be cut fully if this is not achievable.
The report said that this balances the human use with ecological needs and satisfies environmental legislation while addressing the lack of grounds maintenance resources.
There is a seven-week cutting schedule depending on the availability of staff resources while other priority works may take precedence.
Grass cuttings are not removed during this process and are left on site due to lack of resources, the report said.
It said that cutting grass without collecting it is not beneficial for wildflower or pollinator growth.
There have been 20 sites across the county borough identified as priority biodiversity areas to promote wildflower and pollinator growth which have been chosen for their existing biodiversity value and for their suitability and access for specialist cut and collect equipment to remove grass cuttings from the site.
These sites are cut twice a year and are surveyed annually to record species data and evaluate the benefits of grass cutting.
All grass clippings taken off site are categorised as green waste and will count towards the council’s overall recycling targets.
Councillor Clive Jones said they need to look at the situation adding: “It doesn’t make sense to me to cut the grass and leave the grass and leave the grass cuttings there which means that pollination’s not taking place and at the same time if it’s taken from there it goes towards our tonnage for recycling which we are desperately trying to get up to 70% by March 31 next year.”
Councillor Paula Layton said biodiversity is a big thing, recycling is a big thing, and they’ve got targets to meet and they need to look deeper at resources.
