Grassing up Wiltshire - Balfour Beatty punished for incompetence

Wiltshire Council has told contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) to improve its performance.

BBLP was awarded the contract last year and has been totally inept in a number of areas including grass cutting.

Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways John Thomson stated at the council meeting on May 13 that if performance did not improve then the council would "seek further actions" from BBLP.

Nothing happened, so Wiltshire Council has "set out measures such as withholding payment" where grass cutting has fallen below the agreed standard and requiring detailed plans from BBLP as to how, if at all, they intend to do the work they contracted to do

Councillor John Thomson said: "The service being provided isn't good enough and we are determined to work with Balfour Beatty Living Places so standards are raised quickly. This is a resource level issue and it is limited to certain areas of maintenance. BBLP performed well during the winter flooding and we want this level of service across all the areas of work which the company is responsible for. I am confident that we can move forward and although we are working in partnership with the company this does not mean we won't be holding them to account when there are clear problems." (sic)