THE COUNCIL’S grounds maintenance team has been setting the standard for other local authorities in Berkshire.

Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) and Royal Borough for Windsor and Maidenhead struggled with their grass cutting services over the last year and to remedy the problem WBC’s grounds team met with Bracknell’s grass cutting officers.

A Wokingham officer’s report commented: “It was felt that the grounds maintenance service in Bracknell Forest was of a good standard.

“The client team and contractor had developed a positive working relationship which was evidenced by the high number of compliments and the low number of complaints received each year.”

Residents claimed the grass was “knee-high”, which led to residents suffering from asthma and hayfever because of increased amounts of grass pollen, as well as an increase in litter and dog mess hidden away in the grounds, and more ticks inhabiting the long grass.

Wokingham council received 314 complaints from residents unhappy with the grass-cutting services.

Damian James, Assistant Director: Contract Services at Bracknell Forest Council said: “It has always been important to Bracknell Forest Council that grass areas in the borough are maintained to a high standard.

“The grounds maintenance contract was first outsourced in 2014 and it was essential that a high quality specification was maintained.

“The council’s Environmental Services team has developed a very effective and close working partnership with their contractor Continental Landscapes Ltd, which includes daily contact, weekly joint monitoring for quality of work and monthly operational meetings.”

The council’s contractors cut the majority of council owned grass patches and highways areas fifteen times a year.

This happens between the warmer months of March and October.

Rural verges and dual carriageways are cut twice a year.

The council’s contractors also maintain flower beds, sports pitches, school grounds, hanging baskets shrub beds, hedges, nature reserves and park and countryside sites.

CLL are contracted by the council until 2021.