Limited grass cutting to resume in Highland with adherence to physical distancing
11th May 2020
Highland Council has announced it is to begin a restricted grass cutting service across the region.
Despite significant challenges in terms of staffing, the local authority is pleased it is in a position to deliver a limited service at this time.
All work will be carried out in adherence to the national guidelines on what are essential services, and with strict social distancing measures in place.
By commencing this limited service members of the public should not interpret this as any lifting of the lock down requirements. The services permitted focus mainly on mowed grass and include:
Essential maintenance on the roadside, roundabouts and verges where there may be a road safety issue.
Grass cutting in parks to enable people to take their daily exercise. Play parks are to remain closed.
Limited grass cutting in burial grounds, areas of Council housing and in some other open spaces.
The following non-essential grounds maintenance cannot be undertaken at this time:
Strimming activities.
Maintenance of any rough-cut areas.
Strimming back of daffodil beds.
Maintenance of shrub & flower beds, unless it is with herbicide for weed control.
Litter picking of amenity areas.
Maintenance of old burial grounds and unused sections, which are no longer used for burials.
Vice Convener of Highland Council, Councillor Alan Henderson, said: "The Council is grateful to communities undertaking grass cutting and strimming works to prevent deterioration of the amenity in their areas. This is appreciated now the growing season is underway, of course communities must assess the risks of carrying out this task, and adhere to Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance at all times particularly on social distancing."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
First full meeting of Recovery Board meets
The first full meeting of the Highland Council Recovery Board met (virtually) today (4 June 2020). The full membership reflects political balance with 11 Members and 3 senior officers.First full meeting of Recovery Board meets
The first full meeting of the Highland Council Recovery Board met (virtually) today (4 June 2020). The full membership reflects political balance with 11 Members and 3 senior officers.Public Praised As 14 Highland Household Waste And Recycling Centres Successfully Reopen
On Monday (1 June) The Highland Council reopened 14 Household Waste and Recycling Centres across the Highlands to allow people to drop off their garden waste and bagged household waste. The last few days have been a success with the phased approach to the re-opening working well.
Budget impact of Covid-19 on Highland Council
Councillors taking part in today's virtual Corporate Resources Committee were left in no doubt about the significant and serious impact COVID-19 continues to have on the budget of The Highland Council. The scale and immediacy of financial challenges to be faced were laid out in a report that modelled two different potential scenarios - in the ‘mid case' scenario, a budget gap of £65.7m is projected, and in the most severe, a potential gap of £96.9m is projected.Council Reports A Successful Year End Position For 2019-20
The Highland Council has reported a successful year end position for 2019-20 delivering £18M of a 3-year savings plan and an underspend of £7.526m. The Council's unearmarked reserves, which act as a general contingency against unforeseen events or to meet unbudgeted costs, stand at £15.451M at 31 March 2020, having almost doubled over the year due to the in-year budget surplus.Parents Encouraged To Apply For Best Start Grant School Age Payment
Extra cash in the pockets of low income families Eligible parents of children aged four and five are being encouraged to apply for financial support worth £250. The one-off £250 payment is currently open to eligible families with a child who was born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016 and who is old enough to start primary one this year.Essential works to commence on Inverness West Link
Works on the Inverness West Link Stage 2 were suspended on the 24 March 2020 following COVID-19 guidance from the Scottish Government. The Highland Council has been in dialogue with Contractors RJ McLeod and has agreed that essential works are required to begin to address safety issues but primarily the works to be undertaken are to provide for physical distancing and encourage active travel, walking, wheeling and cycling as part of, and to augment the successful Spaces for People project.Over 5,500 Highland businesses helped by COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes
The COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes, set up to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, have now paid out £59,628,750 to over 5500 Highland businesses. The Council has now processed 99% of the applications received since the grant schemes opened.
Schools Re-opening Guidance
Blueprint for safe return to classes. Detailed guidance on practical measures to allow schools to re-open on 11 August has been published.Back to school and learning - ‘carefully and gradually'
The Highland Council is assessing the implications of the First Minister's announcements made on the 21st May about the first stage relaxation of lockdown, concerning teachers and other education staff returning to the workplace during June to prepare for the return to school and settings on 11th August. Highland Council's Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "The return to workplace and Highland schools for our Education staff will have to be undertaken carefully and gradually.Information
Useful Links
What's On
Submissions
Newsfeed / RSS
