Newcastle City Council has ended a gardening service used by more than 600 city residents after deeming it too costly, sparking concerns that vulnerable people could be targeted by ‘cowboys’
Newcastle City Council has axed a garden care service used by hundreds of council house tenants(Image: Getty Images)
The axing of a gardening service has sparked concerns for elderly and disabled council house tenants in Newcastle. City council bosses have scrapped a service that allowed tenants to pay to have their garden kept tidy for a small weekly fee.
Councillors were told on Wednesday that the garden care offer had been deemed unviable, after a review found it was projected a “substantial deficit”. The local authority confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that 631 residents were using the service, which was closed down in June, and that it had been expected to record a £100,000 shortfall for 2025/26 if it was continued.
At a city council meeting on Wednesday night, Lib Dem councillor Doreen Huddart questioned whether adequate consultation with tenants had been carried out. Opposition party colleague Mark Mitchell asked why an assessment of the impact on older and disabled residents had not been conducted and how the council would now ensure vulnerable people will “not be taken advantage of by cowboys who will exploit this, especially when they are being told by council that it is now their responsibility to take care of their garden even if they are physically unable to do so”.
Labour’s Paula Maines, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said that the garden care service was “reviewed thoroughly and found to be unviable from a commercial perspective” following the council’s decision to take control of its housing stock back from Your Homes Newcastle last year.
Coun Maines said that a small number of residents had expressed concern about its removal, but that others had been “very dissatisfied” with the service. She added that all affected tenants had been “signposted towards other services” that could offer an alternative, including the council-run Natures Landscapes.
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “Following a thorough review of our garden maintenance service, which was delivered on a fee-paying basis – we have made the difficult decision to end the service as of 28 June 2025. This decision was not taken lightly and reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering services that are sustainable and aligned with the evolving needs of our residents.
“We understand this may be disappointing for those who have relied on the service. Residents have always been responsible for maintaining their own gardens, as clearly set out in their tenancy agreement. However, we recognise that this may present challenges for some, and we have encouraged any affected residents to contact us for additional support.
“We remain committed to helping residents navigate this transition and have taken proactive steps to identify affordable alternatives. As part of the service review, we engaged with several voluntary and private organisations across the city to explore the availability of similar services that may meet some residents’ needs.
“For those exploring other providers, we continue to advise residents to request a written quote before agreeing to any work and to ensure the service is affordable. We have also clearly communicated that Housing Benefit cannot be used to cover gardening costs to help residents make informed decisions. We appreciate the impact of this change and are here to support residents throughout the process. Anyone who needs advice or assistance is encouraged to get in touch with our team.”