POWYS: Grass cutting and garden maintenance could return in-house

At a meeting in Llandrindod Wells officers let slip that Greenfingers, who have had a contract to maintain outdoor areas for residents with Powys CC since 2016, has decided not to renew it.

The revelation was part of a wide ranging discussion by the Health, Care and Housing Scrutiny Committee on the council's tenants.

The Welsh Audit Office had produced a report on the authority's progress working on making housing stock reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

They spoke to 321 tenants and leaseholders to gauge their views.

The survey had found that 73 per-cent of tenants are satisfied with the environment outside their homes. But some members distrusted the figures.

Cllr Amanda Jenner, who represents Trewern, said: "Outside space is mentioned in the report as a positive. As a councillor, that's the area I get most complaints about.

"I have two estates on my patch, the feeling I get is that it's their (tenants) biggest concern and I want to ask you is this accurate assumption and is 73 per-cent is accurate? Or is it a fraction of who you speak to.

"The problem is the residents who aren't happy shout loudest."

Andy Thompson, of the Housing Department, replied: "Yes, people do have great concern about how their estates look .

"We will be putting a proposal to members as part of the budget, to have a dedicated housing maintenance team, one for the north and one for the south of the county.

"We would be able to move much more quickly to deal with things such as grass cutting, path cleaning and stuff like that.

"As I understand it the Greenfingers contract comes to an end in April and they do not wish to renew. It's important you're proud of where you live."

Greenfingers was contacted by the Local Democracy Service and declined to comment on the issue.

The firm specialises in providing grounds maintenance and tree care services to local authorities and already looks after 250,000 homes and many organisations across the UK.