PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

Private Housing Developments

Conditions relating to the Council accepting Grounds Maintenance Responsibility

The maintenance of private ground is the responsibility of the landowner and where private landowners do not have adequate maintenance arrangements in place, the condition of the land can have a detrimental impact on the local amenity.

An arrangement is available whereby the Council can undertake grounds maintenance in respect of open space land within private housing developments. It is essential, however, that in so doing, the Council, and thereby the community, is not exposed to a financial risk by undertaking work that it is not legally responsible for and certain conditions have to be in place before such work can be undertaken.

This document sets out the Conditions under which the Council will accept responsibility for the maintenance of ground within private housing developments and also outlines the level of service which will be provided.

Maintenance can be arranged in perpetuity or on an annual basis.

Conditions:

The land in question must be in a condition acceptable to the Council prior to the commencement of maintenance work.
Where maintenance is requested in perpetuity, a sum equivalent to the annual maintenance cost multiplied by 10 must be paid in advance to the Council.
Where maintenance is requested on an annual basis, the cost of maintenance must be paid in full and in advance of the commencement of maintenance work.
Community Groups must be properly constituted and appoint a nominated representative who shall act as the liaison contact with the Council.

The Service:

The Service provided is exactly the same as the general grounds maintenance service provided for soft landscaped areas owned by the Council. Maintenance arrangements which do not form part of the general grounds maintenance service are therefore excluded and details of this exclusion are listed.

The annual maintenance cost of the service shall be determined by the particular horticultural content of the site and the undernoted provides details of the level of service provided in respect of the various horticultural features.

Grass Areas. -All grass areas will be maintained in accordance with the prevailing Ground Maintenance Service provided by the Council and grass shall be cut on a cyclic basis, which ensures a maximum grass length of 125mm during the period April to October.
Edges of maintained areas shall be strimmed and treated with the application of a low toxicity herbicide on two occasions per annum.
Shrub areas will be pruned once per year and weed growth shall be controlled by the application of a low toxicity herbicide as necessary and to a maximum frequency of 3 occasions per annum.
Rose beds. -Roses will be pruned on 2 occasions per annum, typically during the spring and autumn periods. Rose beds shall be treated with the application of a low toxicity herbicide on two occasions per annum.
Trees-Trees which are planted as an integral feature of the landscape of the development shall be maintained by the Council subject to the proviso that the maintenance consists only of pruning and cutting back growth up to a height of 3 metres from ground level.

Litter-All areas will be serviced to ensure that a satisfactory standard of cleanliness is maintained.
A satisfactory standard is considered to be Grade B as outlined in the Environment Protection Act.1990 Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.
Play Areas-A weekly inspection of play areas will be carried out and details of defects in equipment, safety surfaces and fences shall be notified.

EXCLUSIONS:

Repair and maintenance of trees, other than those planted as an integral landscape feature of the development. In any event, maintenance of trees shall be restricted to features of trees up to a maximum height of 3 metres above ground level.
Maintenance of Watercourses, drainage ditches etc.
Repair and maintenance of any physical features such as fences, walls and any building of any description
Repair and maintenance of equipment, security fences and safety surfaces within Play Areas.

DRAFT