A SCHEME which helps older or disabled people keep their lawns or gardens tidy will be kept but is to have its budget slashed.

The Garden Assistance Scheme helped 409 council tenants aged over 70 or registered disabled around the city in 2016, and 365 in 2017 following a change in criteria, at a cost to the council of £96,000.

A decision session by the Executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods today heard the budget for next year had been withdrawn completely, but alternatives were being considered to lessen the impact on service users.

More than half of those asked to consider paying £2.25 per week (£117 per year), to cover the costs said they would not pay that amount, and anecdotally, many suggested they could find somebody to help with their gardens, a council report said.

Options considered by the council were leaving the service as is, cutting it completely and saving £96,000, or tendering for a cheaper grass and hedge cutting service and save £46,000, with the latter option being recommended by council officers.

The authority has also considered asking for volunteers to help cut gardens and hedges, and the service will be means tested going forward, with customers who lose out able to pay for the service, and some funding in the budget saved to pay for “exceptional cases” who do not qualify.

Cllr Sam Lisle said the service would be tied in with the council’s handyperson scheme through the Adult Social Care budget.

He said: “We have managed to find a compromised position and achieve significant savings in that budget and retain the vast majority of the service as well for older and disabled residents as well which is incredibly important.”