Agenda item

Up to thirty minutes will be made available for questions from members of the public on issues relating to the work of the Committee and to receive any petitions.

The Panel heard the below question from a member of the public:

“It has been discovered through Freedom of Information that Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council uses nearly 200 litres of pesticides within the Borough to control weeds. The chemicals used contain glyphosate which has been identified by the World Health Organisation as a probable human carcinogen. Many urban areas in Europe have been managed without pesticides for years now (including every town and city in France and Belgium).

In the UK ,Lewes, Brighton & Hove, Hammersmith & Fulham and Lambeth, Trafford and Devon County Councils have all adopted non-chemical alternatives, ranging from high-tech solutions such as hot foam machines to traditional methods including hand weeding and mulching.

We would like to ask if Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council will commit to phasing out harmful pesticides in the Borough and use alternative, chemical-free weed removal methods for the health of residents, especially children, and to help biodiversity flourish?”

The below response was received:

“The Council uses glyphosate to treat hedge bases, obstacles in grass areas and shrub beds. It's also used to treat adopted highways including authority owned or managed garages and housing areas and surfaces. We use licensed operatives to apply glyphosate base herbicides and follow the HSC and DEFRA codes of practice. Currently there are no European or domestic based restrictions on the use of glyphosate based products.

The appropriate assessments are in place for all chemicals used along with safety data sheets. All spraying activities are recorded in line with current legislation. Staff applying glyphosate are provided with PA1 and PA68 training to ensure that all chemical is applied accurately and without drift.

It is noted that the reduction or elimination of glyphosate products at other local authorities has had mixed results. Earlier this year, Brighton and Hove Council reintroduce the use of glyphosate, due to uncontrolled weak growth which was causing issues with pavements at significant cost to the Council. Cambridge City Council recently reversed a policy not to use herbicides due to significant issues and complaints following a decision to stop using chemical control. This is not to say alternatives should not be investigated, however, the consideration with the wider impacts of alternative methodss can raise further issues.

A recent trial which was carried out following recommendation from Cardiff Council Environment Scrutiny Committee inquiring into the management of biodiversity and the natural Environment found that glyphosate is the most effective and sustainable weed control method currently available. The research which was undertaken in 2021 and 2022 use different methods of weed control, including a hot foam method,

found that, based on costs, environmental, customer and quality criteria, the most effective and sustainable weed control method currently available for pavement weed control in the UK involves the use of glyphosate base herbicide.

Currently the existing arrangement is the most economical and effective weed treatment. The current non-glyphosate based treatments available have limitations in terms of effectiveness, number of treatments required, environment impacts and costs that can be up to 10 times higher. However, the Council is committed at looking at non glyphosate solutions. The first steps towards a reduction of glyphosate had been taken in 2022 when they use of glyphosate was reduced at the Council when making the play areas and public open spaces chemical free in these areas weeds are managed  by strimming and hand weeding”.