Grass cutting Contract
Specification for the Grass cutting contract 2022 to 2025
The sites:
1. Car Park at the Village Hall and Play Area.
2. Hedley Haward Memorial Playing Field.
3. The Green, Harveys Close
4. Rock Pit Farm Car Park, Chilfrome Lane
5. MUGA surface- Sweep and clean the surface (see note g below)
Specification:
a) General maintenance of grassed areas of the above sites, using your own mower, strimmer, hand tools and any other necessary equipment as required to carry out the work. The contractor should possess a certificate of competence to operate powered equipment and a maintenance record for each item.
b) Height of cut 25mm (1 inch) with maximum growth height of 50mm (2 inches) between cuts. The sites should at every cut be strimmed up to boundary fences and hedges (including the edges of the Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) on the Playing Field. (taking care strimming fence lines)
c) Frequency of cuts to maintain this required height will be dependent on climatic conditions, rate of growth and time of year. Leading into the summer the specified minimum cut height will not be achieved at the first cut. Similarly leading up to the winter period, when little grass growth occurs, regard should be taken as to the need to ensure adequate cut height in excess of the specified minimum cut.
d) Grass clippings from the first cut must be collected and removed from the sites. Grass clippings from later cuts must always be collected and removed from the Play Area but can be left on the Playing Field unless grass growth exceeds the maximum height of 50mm (2 inches).
e) Grass cutting is to be carried out with appropriate equipment to produce an even cut, without ridges or ribbing, removing all bents and stalks throughout the area. Grass cutting to the specified areas is to include removal and disposal of all leaves, litter, stones, debris and objects which could cause a danger to the public or which could be pressed into the surface of the area by the cutting operation.
f) Weeds in gravel surrounding Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) are to be removed regularly (every 2 to 3 months) using weed killer. It is essential that whoever carries out this work possesses the necessary licences.
g) MUGA surface- sweep the MUGA as required, and pressure wash twice a year as required to remove all algae (electric and water can be accessed from the MUGA hut)
Plants and Materials- All plant and materials necessary for the proper execution of the work are to be provided by the contractor. This should be included within the quote.
A site visit is necessary– please contact the Clerk to arrange this.
Terms of Contract
1st April 2022 to 31st March 2025 inclusive
Insurance
The contractor will be required to produce an “all risk” policy covering his/her liability for damage to property and public which is no less than £5 million in respect to any claim. The successful applicant will provide copy of such insurance before commencing work.
General Workmanship and site cleanliness
All work to be carried out in accordance with all relevant Codes of Practice and in accordance with good building practise. All works should be completed in a tidy and workmanlike manner. All areas shall be left clean, and all debris/rubbish and materials shall be removed from the site prior to works completion.
Construction Design and Management Regulations
The contractor is responsible for a Health and Safety of the works on site and is to be fully compliant to CDM Regulations.
All Work
To be carried out must be to the satisfaction of the Parish Council, works will be inspected by Councillors or the Clerk during the period of works.
Maiden Newton Grass cutting
PRICING SHEET the items have been detailed individually to enable the PC to consider the costs of maintaining each item.
|
Item |
Price before VAT |
VAT (if registered) |
Total |
| 1. Village Hall Car Park and Play Area | |||
| 2. Hedley Haward Memorial Playing Field. | |||
| 3.The Green, Harveys Close |
|
||
| 4. Rock Pit Farm Car Park, Chilfrome Lane | |||
| 5. Sweep and clean the MUGA surface | |||
| Total
|
Comments/ requirements etc: please continue on a separate sheet if required.
Day rate……………..
Name of Contractor: ……………………………………………………………..
Signed: ……………………………………………… Date:…………….……
Print Name: ……………………………………………………………..
Instructions to Tenderers
Tenders should include the completed Pricing Sheet and be submitted in plain envelopes, which should bear no distinguishing marks that could enable the sender to be identified, addressed to:
The Parish Clerk (Ref Maiden Newton Grass contract)
Maiden Newton Parish Council
West Elworth Farm
Portesham
Weymouth
Dorset DT3 4HF
Tenders should be despatched to be received by the Council at the above address by
2nd March 2022. To be considered at the 3rd March 22 Parish Council meeting
Alternatively, you may email your tender to the Parish Clerk as above. clerk@maidennewton-pc.gov.uk
Tenders should allow for inspection of the work at appropriate stages should this be required.
Tenders should include estimates for when works would commence and finish and any working requirements the Tenderer has (e.g. works to be undertaken at particular times).
Tendered prices should be stated clearly for each part of the specification requiring separate pricing, and any VAT payable should be stated clearly and separately.
Any assumptions made or conditions or limitations that the Tenderer wishes to impose should be clearly stated. In particular if any of the terms and conditions contained herein pose problems for you then please discuss them with the Parish Clerk before you submit a tender.
Invoices should normally be rendered on completion of the specified works to the client’s satisfaction. The Council will undertake to pay approved invoices within 1 month of approval. On larger projects it may be appropriate for stage payments to be made. If you believe that this applies, then please note this and the matter will be discussed with you if the Council wishes to appoint you for the work.
Before undertaking any work etc for the Council the Contractor appointed should carry insurance appropriate to the work, goods or services involved (for example employers liability, public liability or professional indemnity insurance). The Contractor appointed should be prepared to evidence this to the Council.
All tenders are provided at the Tenderer’s cost and the Council is not bound to accept any tender.
The Maiden Newton Parish Council is not bound to accept the lowest or any tender.
Termination
The Council may terminate the Contract forthwith if:
- It is of the reasonable opinion that the Service Provider is in default in the performance or observance of any term or condition of the Contract.
- It is of the opinion that the Service Provider has failed to perform the Services specified in the Schedules or has failed to do so to the standard required and that such failure is incapable of remedy.
- The Service Provider has failed to remedy a failure to perform the Services satisfactorily in the time required to remedy such failure as instructed.
- The Services have not been provided at the time or in the sequence set out in the Schedules contained within this Agreement.
- The Service Provider or any employee of the Service Provider or any person acting on behalf of the Service Provider has:
- Given any fee or reward the receipt of which is an offence under sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the Local Government Act 1972;
- At any time during the tendering process (i.e. from the date of the publication of the notice seeking expressions of interest to the date of the award of the Contract), directly or indirectly canvassed any member or official of the Council concerning the acceptance of any proposal in respect of the Council;
- Directly or indirectly obtained or attempted to obtain information from any member or official of the Council concerning any other proposal submitted by any other person in respect of the formation of the Contract;
- Committed any offence under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916;
- The Service Provider compounds or makes any arrangement with his creditors whilst insolvent or is unable to pay its debts within the meaning of Section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
- A mortgagor take possession of the whole or a substantial part of the Service Provider’s property or assets or an administrator is appointed to the same.
- An order is made, or a resolution passed, for the winding up of the Service Provider.
Termination Consequences
In the event of the agreement being terminated for the reasons contained above the Council will:
- Cease to be under any obligation to make further payment until the costs, loss and/or damage resulting from or arising out of the termination of the Service Provider’s engagement shall have been calculated; and
- Be entitled to employ and pay other persons to provide and complete the provision of the Services or any part thereof; and
- Be entitled to deduct from any sum or sums that would but for this Condition have been due from the Council to the Service Provider under this Contract or any other contract, or be entitled to recover the same from the Service Provider as a debt, together with any loss or damage to the Council resulting from or arising out of the termination of the Service Provider’s engagement. Such loss or damage will include the reasonable costs to the Council of the time spent by its officers in terminating the Contract, and in making alternative arrangements for the provision of the Services or any part thereof; and
- Calculate the cost of any loss and/or damage and other costs arising from the Council’s termination of the Contract and deducts the same from any sum or sums, which may otherwise be due to the Service Provider. The Council will pay to the Service Provider any balance shown as due to the Service Provider or if appropriate will recover any balance shown due to the Council as debt.
The rights of the Council under this Condition are in addition to and without prejudice to any other rights the Council may have against the Service Provider. The termination of the Contract, howsoever arising, will be without prejudice to any rights or obligations theretofore accrued or to any provisions which are expressed to be performed after or to survive the termination of this Contract.
Play area Closed
The Maiden Newton play area is closed as there is damage to surfacing that is now a health and safety issue, it will be reopened as soon as the weather dries up and the surface can be repaired.
Sorry for the inconvenience
Maiden Newton Country Car Service comes of Age
Maiden Newton Country Car Service comes of Age
On January 2nd 2022 the Maiden Newton Country Car Service will celebrate 25 years of providing transport to appointments at hospitals, doctors’ surgeries including vaccinations, dentists, chiropodists, opticians, and visits to relatives in hospital for those who have no other means of transport.
Back in 1996 Maiden Newton was one of the two areas of West Dorset asked to take part in the Local Agenda 21 Project. As part of this, every household was asked to fill in a questionnaire to find out what facilities the village needed. One of the findings was that
of the difficulties many residents had to find transport to get to medical appointments. It was suggested to the Parish Council that these could be provided by opening a branch of the County Council’s Country Cars scheme which at that time supported a large number of branches across the County with the necessary background administration. This covered the arranging of public liability insurance, the carrying out of recruitment checks, provision of drivers’ record keeping books and the payment of additional monies to cover the miles driving to/from clients. The Officers also suggested that the area covered be expanded to include surrounding parishes. The Parish Councils were consulted and so was Dr Wiley.
At a public meeting that September attended by officers from DCC and chaired by the Chair of Maiden Newton Parish Council, the late Vernon Holleyoak, I agreed to become the Booking Secretary whilst Vernon recruited drivers.
About 7 years ago the County decided to withdraw their support for these schemes and the majority became independent under the Neighbour Car model. Two schemes in West Dorset (Maiden Newton and Beaminster) appealed against the decision requiring us to go independent and, as of today, continue to receive this support from Dorset Council.
The area covered by the Maiden Newton Scheme is still basically the catchment area of Greenford School and includes Compton Valence, West Compton, Wynford Eagle, Frome Vauchurch, Toller Fratrum, Toller Porcorum, Kingcombe, Hooke, Chilfrome, Cattistock, Frome St Quintin and Wraxall. Since the loss of the 212 bus route, we also look after patients, registered at the Pound Piece Surgery, from Frampton and Sydling St Nicholas.
Sue Wreford, now from Toller Porcorum, is the only original driver from the 1997 team still driving. I should like to thank Sue and all the other volunteers who have driven, and those who are now driving for the Scheme, over the past 25 years. There are more than 100 of them – thank you everyone for your support. I should have liked to continue to be one of this team but I now have a pacemaker. The DVLA have returned my driving licence but insurance companies do not insure volunteer drivers with pacemakers.
I should also like to thank Mary Smith and Rachael Clark who, in turn, have taken over responsibility for the bookings. We now have over 80 clients on our books who made
159 journeys between April and the end of September this year. I hope to continue to help when Rachael is ill, or away, by taking the bookings yet again but we need more drivers.
And finally to John Ball (320522), our Treasurer and main contact with Dorset Council. Thank you John for all your support. If anyone feels that they would like to volunteer to become a driver, please contact either John or me.
Sally Falkingham (320969)
Disruption to Cash Payments in car parks
Drivers using Dorset Council car parks are being asked to use cashless payments due to ongoing disruption to many ticket machines across the county.
If a machine is currently unable to accept cash payment, drivers will still need to pay for parking via a cashless method.
This may involve using a phone and will require locating the unique car park identification number. This is displayed on signs throughout the car park and can also be found on the side of the payment machine.
There are four cashless options to choose from:
- Downloading the Just Park app to your smartphone
- Paying by mobile phone, using details found on the side of the payment machine
- For those without a smartphone, you can register with JustPark online at home and pay by SMS (text message) in the car park
- Some car park payment machines offer debit/credit card payment, this can be checked in advance online at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/parking
Drivers may find it beneficial to set some of these options up in advance, such as inputting car registration and card details into the JustPark app while at home or registering for SMS payment online.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We’re sorry for this disruption. This is very much a temporary measure and we are working hard to reinstate cash payments, which we know are the preferred option for many of our residents.
“Please be prepared to use a cashless method of payment while we work through this issue, it’s going to take several weeks to get cash payments operating again.”
It’s hoped that cash payments will be available again in all car parks by early December.
Please see full details in this link
New £300k disabled access ramp opens at Dorchester West station
A PENSIONER who has been putting pressure on transport bosses for an access ramp to be built at Dorchester West station for more than a decade said she is ‘overjoyed’ that the £300,000 project is finally complete.
Sally Falkingham, 85, is among those who have been asking Network Rail and Dorset Council to build the no-step access ramp, which now allows disabled and elderly passengers to get to the northbound platform one via a specially-built route from Williams Avenue.
Three trees and some bushes in Williams Avenue have been removed as part of the work.
Previously, disabled people and others with restricted mobility were forced to travel to Weymouth and then back again if they wanted to head north.
Ms Falkingham, who serves as transport representative for Maiden Newton Parish Council, said: “The station is now accessible for everyone.
RECRUITING FOR THE DORSET LOCAL ACCESS FORUM NOW!
FINAL News/Press release 2021
RECRUITING FOR THE DORSET LOCAL ACCESS FORUM NOW!
Help IMPROVE public paths and open space in Dorset for walking, horse riding and cycling
Enjoying Dorset’s countryside and urban areas on foot, horse, bike and responsible vehicles is a pleasure for many local people and visitors but how can it be improved?
Coast path being lost to erosion; the need for safe vehicle free routes for walking, cycling and horse-riding; maintenance/improvement work sensitive to the paths character & landscape; enabling people to walk and ride and not use vehicles for local trips; how to provide better space for children to play and exercise; routes for vehicular users; better access for disabled people to enjoy the countryside; maximising access opportunities for tourism and economy; complementing farming practices. The Dorset Local Access Forum considers such matters – and more – and works to find solutions to get the best from Dorset’s Public Rights of Way and public green space.
Be part of the team that helps develop and improve Dorset’s public paths and green space to benefit matters such as recreation, health, equality and diversity, disabled access, planning, transport, economy, conservation, land management and tourism.
The forum is an independent, statutory body providing advice to various organisations, including councils, AONBs, English Heritage, the Forestry Commission, Defra and Natural England, as well as any members of the public who request it.
Anyone can apply to join the DLAF – all you need is commitment, enthusiasm, and experience of using; helping provide or of the wider issues that could be benefited by improved countryside access. That could be:
· someone who enjoys walking, horse-riding, cycling, responsible vehicular driving or other outdoor activities, or who uses the county’s rights of way to travel sustainably around their local area;
· an owner, occupier and/or manager of land – especially with open access or Public Rights of Way;
· Someone involved with matters such as health, environment, planning, tourism, the economy where improved paths and green space could bring additional public benefits.
The DLAF brings together a diverse mix of people of all ages and expertise to provide fresh, creative and challenging ideas and advice on how to improve and develop paths and countryside access sites in Dorset. Its members shape the Forum and its work. The forum aims to make Dorset more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, both now and in the future.
To apply to join the DLAF find the application form here https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/Dorset-Local-Access-Forum
And here
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/get-involved-dlaf
For more information on the role and work of the DLAF, please contact:
Tara Hansford, Strategic Outdoor Access Development Coordinator tara.hansford@dorsetcouncil.co.uk Tel: 01305 221779
DLAF website: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/dorset-local-access-forum-1?p_l_back_url=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Ddorset%2Blocal%2Baccess%2Bforum
Deadline: 7th November 2021
MUGA use
The MUGA/Playing field is booked at the following times:
Greenford School
Monday to Friday 9am to 2.30pm (Term time)
Maiden Newton Youth Football Club
Tuesday 6pm until 7pm (Under 13’s)
Thursdays 5pm until 6pm (Under 8s)
Thursdays 6pm until 7pm (Under 11s)
Fridays 6pm until 7pm (Under 10s)
Sundays from 10am to 3.30pm for matches as from 15th October onwards
Rugby Tots
Tues 2.30pm to 4.30pm by Rugby Tots (until the weather turns)
During these times the MUGA and playing field are not available to the general public as these sessions are booked and paid for in advance.
Thank you for your cooperation
Please contact the Parish Council to book this facility
Email clerk@maidennewton-pc.gov.uk
Tel: 07814 016971
Next PC Meeting
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 5th February, 2026
This meeting will be held at Maiden Newton Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend; please see the agenda for more details.
Download the agenda for this meeting: 
Agenda 05-02-26
Agenda 05-02-26