Bridgend Council has decided to reallocate over £300,000 of capital funding from their budget to establish an in-house grass-cutting service. The move, approved during a council meeting on September 25, involves transferring £340,000 from an existing project towards developing the new service. This funding will cover expenses for acquiring equipment like mowers and necessary work at the Bryncethin depot.
Earlier in January 2024, a decision was made to bring the grass-cutting service in-house to enhance cost-efficiency and flexibility, aligning it with the existing park grass cutting service managed by the council. Officials highlighted the urgency to order equipment by September 30 to ensure availability for service commencement by March 2025. Recruitment for staff is expected to commence in autumn following preliminary evaluations by the job evaluation team.
Opposition members expressed concerns regarding the lack of comprehensive analysis or market testing to determine potential savings from internalizing the service. Councillor Ian Williams queried the comparison between outsourcing costs and in-house operations. However, council officers and leader Cllr John Spanswick defended the decision, citing prior evidence of escalating outsourcing expenses, rendering in-house management more viable.
Despite heated deliberations among councillors calling for more detailed information, the proposal was eventually passed with 28 in favor, 18 against, and no abstentions. The approved funding reallocation signifies a strategic shift in the council’s operational approach towards enhancing service provision while ensuring financial prudence.