COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
MOTION NO.19
MOTION: Councillor A.M. Dermody
"That the Manger provide this Council will an understanding of the inspection and supervision by the Council's Supervisors around grass cutting within this County/ward. Please include reference to the training and instructions provided to staff and as to the checks and inspections that take place following grass cutting and the frequency of such inspections by Supervisors. To ask the Manager to review and comment on the photographs taken by me on the evening of the 28th of May 2013 of the grass verges along Stocking Avenue, Rathfarnham and the state and quality of the work completed. To ask the Manager to compare from the photographs provided the grass cutting by the Council's employees with that of the Management Company of the grass verge at the entrance to Stocking Wood. Poor quality work by this Council's employees is not acceptable and it is for the Manager to ensure that adequate measures are adopted towards ensuring an acceptable standard of work by employees is delivered."
REPORT:
It is accepted that the cutting of the narrow grass margins along sections of Stocking Avenue in Rathfarnham which was carried out by the Council at the end of May did not reach a standard which can be considered to be acceptable. These margins are normally cut on a 3 week recurring schedule using ride-on mowers and strimmers, where necessary, and the work is directly supervised and inspected by supervisory staff based at Rathfarnham Depot. The long grass around obstacles such as trees and bollards etc. now needs to be strimmed and sprayed which will be carried out over the next week or so. The margins along this road which are fronting the Stocking Wood development are cut every 7-10 days at the same frequency as the internal open spaces within the estate. The areas of grass which are cut every 7 to 10 days by the Management Company are obviously maintained to a much higher standard than those areas which are cut once every three weeks by Council staff. Council staff who are engaged in the cutting of grass are instructed to do so in a manner that leaves the general area clean and tidy, in this regard it is important for staff to try to ensure that no grass cuttings are discharged onto the footpaths or roadway. It is the aim of the Council to have all areas where maintenance work is to be carried out inspected both before the work commences and after it has been completed, and such a completion inspection is intended to identify the need for any further works in the area. Where a grass cutting location has been heavily soiled by grass cuttings or litter then the supervisor in charge should take action to remedy the situation. Every effort will now be made to bring the grass margins in question to a more presentable condition when the grass is next cut in the area over the coming weeks.