FLOWER beds bringing a splash of colour to towns across Argyll and Bute may disappear – unless residents step up to look after them.
A plan to end the maintenance of plants and flower beds across the area is among the savings options to be considered by Argyll and Bute’s councillors as they prepare to set the authority’s budget for the coming financial year.
Community councillors and residents already help to maintain some of the beds in Colquhoun Square in the centre of Helensburgh.
But a report has warned that if people don't come forward to help in areas where the community is not already involved, planters could be removed and flower beds grassed over.
One full-time post will also be lost if the council decides to accept the savings option.
It is estimated that doing so will save the authority £30,000 a year.
The nursery growing service operated by the council is also proposed to cease, which would see plants sourced externally.
This is a separate savings option which is an estimated saving of £10,000 per year. One full-time post is also under scrutiny.
The council will decide its budget for 2021/22 at a virtual meeting on Thursday, February 25.
A report by executive director Kirsty Flanagan said that the provision of flower beds could be transferred to community groups or business improvement districts (BIDs).
However, Ms Flanagan said: “If third sector/BIDs will not assume responsibility, planters will be removed and beds will be grassed over. No floral displays (would be) provided by the council.
“The bedding provided across various locations in Argyll and Bute provides a splash of colour and brightens up the areas.
“Often these planted beds are at the entrances and gateways to towns and provide an attractive feature.
“Should transfers not be successful or not secured, we would need to be grassing over plots early in the growing season to meet the savings. This may result in the perception that the area becomes bland and less attractive.”
On the nursery growing service, Ms Flanagan said: “Much consideration has been given to providing a retail and wholesale outlet for plants.
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“However, the margins associated with these activities are incredibly small and combining the small margins with the terms and conditions offered by the council would not make this financially viable.
“The current model that is in place includes buying in plant plugs early in the season and growing these in council greenhouses in preparation for them being planted in the various planting beds cross the area.
“This model provides a degree of flexibility and enables the council to be held to deliver and plant bedding to meet peaks in demand and available weather windows.
Should plants be sourced externally, this flexibility is likely to be reduced.”
Ms Flanagan also said of the two savings options: “Whilst the two are not necessarily tied together as one, there are linkages and implications between these two proposals.”
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