Tory County Council bosses slammed for grass cutting blunder

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Jul 2008

Conservative County Council bosses are under fire for providing local residents with a poor grass cutting service.

The Liberal Democrats are putting a motion to next Tuesday's Hinckley and Bosworth Council meeting calling on Tory County Council leaders to sort out problems with grass cutting in the borough.

The proposer of the motion, Burbage Stretton and Sketchley Liberal Democrat Councillor Adrian Smith said "The Conservative record on grass cutting has been so dismal that they have been forced to apologise to local residents for it.

"But there are still many grass verges in a poor state across our borough. The problem is so bad that it is time for Tory bosses at the County Council to take a serious look at the grass cutting contract, and if necessary, change it.

"People in our area should not have to put up with grass verges being in a poor state.

"If they don't sort this out soon people will be asking if we can't trust the Tory County Council to cut the grass how can we trust them with vital services like education and Social Services?"

The motion will be seconded by Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burbage Lash Hill and St Catherines Ann Hall.

The full text of the motion to be debated at the August 5th meeting of the council is;

"This Council makes a formal complaint to the Cabinet Lead Member for Highways on the County Council about the poor performance of the grass cutting service in Hinckley & Bosworth.

That this Council welcomes the apology made by the County Cabinet member concerning the quality and performance of the county councils contractor, but we would like to remind him that the problem remains unresolved, with many verges still in an appalling condition.

This Council calls upon, the County Council through its Lead Member to complete a full of the existing grass cutting contract, and if necessary amend it to ensure that problem does not recur, especially at this time of year, and that the residents of Hinckley & Bosworth receive the level of service they deserve."