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Street cleaning and grounds maintenance services, whose responsibilities include the cutting of grass verges in and around the village, are to return to Shepway Council next month.

But there will still be areas in Hawkinge which won't benefit from the change as around eighty roads in the village remain unadopted and the district council are not responsible for their upkeep.

The services which resume on 1 October, were taken over three years ago by Kent County Council as part of a two-year partnership arrangement at a time when Shepway faced huge pressures on its budget.

The then council faced tough budget restrictions after its spending was ‘capped’ by the government following its 2004 council tax setting. The partnership arrangement saw the transfer of around 120 staff to KCC.

Speaking last year, Cllr Robert Bliss, said: “The arrangement came at a time when Shepway’s budget was under a lot of pressure, public toilets were being closed and the grass on highway verges was being left to grow. It was a disaster.

“We have worked very well together and this arrangement has certainly been a great help to the district. It has been acknowledged as being a very good example of partnership working and as a result, the new administration, over the last 18 months, has been able to make significant savings.

“It is true that we faced problems in the early days following the transfer to Kent but I am fully confident that Shepway Council will be bringing an improving service back in house.”