Skelton Parish Council
Parish Clerk, c/o Knott Lodge, Knott Lane, Easingwold, York YO61 3LX
: 07849 250 043
[email protected]
www.skelton-york.gov.uk
Village Grounds Maintenance Contract 2017/18
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
The Contractor must have public liability insurance cover and, if they employ staff, employer’s
liability insurance cover.
Payment is made monthly on invoice.
The Contractor should be aware that all the scheduled areas are open to the public and when
working must take all reasonable precautions to prevent harm to anyone in the area.
The Contractor shall inspect all areas on each occasion before commencing work and remove
and dispose of all litter, stones and other debris that might damage machinery, vehicles and
equipment, or create a potential hazard to persons and property.
Any damage to grass areas caused by moles or rabbits shall be repaired and the ground made
good to adjacent levels.
On grassed areas, cuttings may be left in place. Cuttings scattered on roads, paths and the like
shall be removed on the same day as the grass is cut.
Hedge and tree cuttings are to be removed.
Chemical weed killers should not be used except in the areas specifically indicated.
The Contractor shall be liable at his sole cost for replacement of any turf or plants killed or
damaged (other than those which are required to be killed) or for any other damage resulting
from his operations.
The Contractor shall inform the Clerk to the Council of any damage to any surface or features
where remedial or reinstatement work may be required.
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Skelton Parish Council
Village Grounds Maintenance Contract 2017/18
SECTION 1 - PUBLIC SPACES
Maintenance and grass cutting is required as per the schedule below.
Grass cutting
 There should be 15 cuts spread through April to November to leave the grass short for
winter. However, in the areas where there are spring flowers these should be cut around
until they have died back.
 The grass should be cut to about 50mm.
 The Contractor shall ensure that grass is cut and trimmed up to the base of trees, posts
etc.
Schedule of Areas to Be Maintained
The areas are shaded in blue on the village plan unless less otherwise noted.
No.
1
Area
Doctors’ surgery - small triangular
area on the corner of St Giles Rd.
Maintenance required
Grass cutting
2
Village Green, the areas in front of
the Church including the verge on
the Church Lane side of the church
Grass cutting
3
Crooking Green, on Moorlands Road
opposite the Village Hall
Grass cutting
Cut up to the base of the hedge.
4
Hedge at the top of Orchard Field
running from the substation along
The Village and round to the gate on
Orchard View (in red on the plan)
Keep the bottom of the hedge clear of weeds.
Once a year cut to 15cm above the laid line
5
Section of hedge next to the path
through Orchard Field by the 2nd
lamp standard (in red on the plan)
Once a year cut it back to keep the path clear
and the street light from being obscured.
6
The Pasture and Orchard Field (the
large grassed area in the centre of
the village)
Grass cutting
7
The Playing Field
Grass cutting
8
Sycamore Close - both squares
Grass cutting
9
Area around the pond
Once a year: South side footpath: cut back all annual
growth at both sides, to the edge of the pond
on one side and to the hedge on the other.
 East side (Burtree Av.): cut the annual growth
back the edge of the pond and cut tree
shoots back to below1 metre.
 North side, including the NW corner: cut back
the annual growth to the edge of the pond
and cut tree shoots to below 1 metre.
10
Hedge on Park Close
Once a year cut it back so it is clear of the
highway and the street light is not obscured.
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Skelton Parish Council
Village Grounds Maintenance Contract 2017/18
SECTION 2 - PLAYGROUND
The playground consists of two pieces of land either side of the Brecksfield road. On the plan
they are shaded in purple.
All the play equipment and features are on the northern site within the metal fenced area.
Access is obtained via the double gate at the southern end. The southern site is a wildlife
friendly recreational area.
It is important to note that the ground in both of the areas gets soft in wet weather so they
should not be cut by machinery that could cause ruts.
Grass cutting
 For both areas 15 cuts are required spread through the year to leave the grass short for
winter.
 The contractor must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of any persons using the
playground at the time when maintenance operations are taking place.
 The cutting is to include strimming around all play equipment and features, trees and
bushes on the site and up to the boundary fences and hedges.
 The path should be kept clear of vegetation and the verge between the path and boundary
hedge should be strimmed at each cut.
General
 After summer the playground side of the hedge along the footpath is to be cut back to keep
the path clear and brought down to a height of 2m.
 The ash tree opposite the street light by the infants’ area should be trimmed to prevent the
light being obscured.
 The rubber surface in the infants play area should be cleared of leaves around the end of
November.
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Skelton Parish Council
Village Grounds Maintenance Contract 2017/18
SECTION 3 - CEMETERY
General
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The Cemetery Rules forbid glass items to be put onto graves. However, plot owners do
sometimes use them. The Clerk inspects the cemetery periodically and will remove any
glassware found but the Contractor should, nevertheless, check for glassware before
starting work.
In all the work special care must be taken to ensure there is no damage to graves and
memorials
The cutting is to include strimming around all graves and headstones, along the narrow
access paths between the graves and along the edges of the main path to remove
vegetation.
The Original Cemetery
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There should be 15 grass cuts spread through April to November to leave the grass short for
winter.
The pathway should be kept clear of weeds and grass. Chemical weed killer can be used.
The Rose Garden to be kept trimmed, tidy and free of weeds throughout the contract and
left pruned for the winter.
The frontage between the parking layby and the Cemetery wall and the area between the
layby and the surfaced entrance to the cemetery extension to be kept trimmed and tidy.
The Cemetery Extension
General
 For a stretch of 20m, the frontage running Northwards from the entrance to be kept trimmed.
 The stone chipped path to be kept free of weeds and vegetation. Chemical weed killer can
be used.
 At the end of the growing season the hedges between the cemetery extension and the road
(including the section within the fenced compound) on one side and the field on the other to
be trimmed back on both sides and the top. Each hedge is about 100 metres long.
Grass cutting
The extension is divided into two areas; a Lawned area and an “undeveloped” area (see the
plan.)
 Lawned area (darker green on the plan): there should be 15 grass cuts spread through April
to November to leave the grass short for winter. To be cut to a height of about 30mm.
 The Undeveloped area: to be kept to a length of about 100mm throughout the growing
season.
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