Hi TVCS,
You will find that a lot of this work is either done by a direct labour force employed by the Council or awarded to contractors by tender as they tend to be mostly large contracts. Estate cleaning/litter picking tends to include verges where applicable and often drafted in their specification. As for whether it is worth pursing .....yes! Things to consider environmental license, qualified staff, the right equipment , Insurance, H &S etc., which would be more stringent in this category of works.