A review has found that a legal challenge delaying the award of St Albans District Council’s grounds maintenance contract disrupted grass-cutting services earlier this year. 

The unusual combination of wet and warm spring weather also contributed to the problems experienced.
The matter was discussed by the council’s local services scrutiny committee.

It received a report saying that the contractual delay and optimum growing conditions in the spring led to grass cutting standards not being met. 

Once the challenge to the council’s procurement process was withdrawn, the contractor responded to the delay by recruiting additional staff and buying new machinery for the verges. The committee expressed concern that councillors had not been informed about the problems immediately.

The grounds maintenance contract covers maintenance of the district council’s parks, open spaces, cemeteries, churchyards, allotments, housing sites and three former railway lines. 

In addition, grounds maintenance work is carried out for Sandridge Parish Council and Harpenden Town Council under the contract.

The District Council’s contractor has also been undertaking highway verge cutting, excluding major routes, on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council which is responsible for maintaining highways verges.