How my local Council could save money

Today I have seen yet again the monster purple machine which propels a small round brush along the gutters being driven down our streets.  It does not do a good job.  For one thing I don't know if the driver can actually see if he is close to the pavement or not, and every time he comes to a parked car he has to go round it so that bit of gutter doesn't get a chance.  At a saving of what, £40,000, perhaps a lot more?, that same man could be effectively sweeping with a lowly broom.  He would have a healthier life and there wouldn't be fuel to pay for and the streets would be cleaner.  Who was the joker who thought up these daft machines, and who the gullible Council officials who got convinced by salesmen that they would be a good idea?  Dare I suggest this is an example of where women rather than men might make better decisions on such questions?