Agenda item

The Streetscene Operations Manager introduced the report. EDDC banned the general use of glyphosate in September 2022 based on evidence of environmental damage and public health concerns from the use of glyphosate. At its meeting in September 2025, the Scrutiny Committee agreed to conduct a review into the impact of banning glyphosate and be updated on the trials of various alternatives. The report set out the results of Streetscene’s glyphosate alternative trials and feedback from Councillors in relation to areas where weed growth was a concern. The trials related only for EDDC areas that are managed and maintained by Streetscene. Devon County Council are responsible for all pavements, gutters, roadways, traffic islands etc., in East Devon.

The Streetscene Operations Manager advised the Committee that there is no Council approved policy regarding glyphosate use. Following the ban, the Horticultural Technical Officer had created a weed treatment plan which had been used to inform the report to the Committee.

The report sets out the response from Councillors to the call for evidence on problem areas. The response had been very low, which indicates that there are no major issues with EDDC maintained areas. The problem areas highlighted by Councillors were maintained by Devon County Council.

The report set out the trials of alternatives to glyphosate: vinegar; hot foam.

Responses to questions and discussion included the following points:

·         It was noted that other local authorities are currently reviewing their policies on the use of glyphosate;

·         It was clarified that EDDC does not have a policy regarding glyphosate use and the report therefore did not cover policy review;

·         There should be no issue with the use of spraying weedkiller if used correctly;

·         Concern was expressed regarding the Council’s use of dicophar and the perception that this was more environmentally friendly than glyphosate;

·         The Horticultural Technical Officer clarified that EDDC’s decision to ban glyphosate use in 2022 related solely to glyphosate and not to other herbicides or pesticides. The Council therefore continues to use herbicides and pesticides widely across areas such as sports pitches. Dicophar is also widely used by other local authorities on areas such as sports pitches and bowling greens;

·         Concern was expressed that, according to the Pesticide Action Network, dicophar is more harmful than glyphosate;

·         It was noted that glyphosate kills everything, whereas dicophar is a selective weed killer which does not kill grasses, and so is used on sports pitches;

·         Concern was expressed that there is no suitable alternative to dicophar available for use on sports pitches and amenity turf, however, the Council was also using dicophar as a spot treatment for weeds and it was questioned whether this had been trialled by the manufacturer and was therefore certified for uses other than sports pitches and amenity turf;

·         In response to a query whether any measurement of the effects on the microbiome under the soil surface was carried out when trialling alternatives such as hot foam, it was noted that, due to capacity, it was not possible to measure impacts below the soil surface;

·         Concern was expressed as to the unintended consequences of the initial ban on the use of glyphosate, particularly when alternatives required funding and capacity which was not available;

·         It was noted that the public and farmers can use dicophar widely with no training or knowledge, so it may be more appropriate for the Council to use glyphosate selectively as a safer alternative to dicophar, in order to redress the balance following EDDC’s ban on its use;

·         It was confirmed that Streetscene has licensed operatives to use pesticides and herbicides and PPE is provided and checked regularly;

·         Giant Hogweed was a concern and should be treated accordingly;

·         The use of dicophar as a spot treatment had not been tested and should not be used by the Council;

·         It was vital to understand the impact of all treatments beneath the soil surface in order to make informed decisions;

·         Regarding the persistence of dicophar in the soil, the half-life of one of the ingredients was between 6 and 15.1 days;

·         Dicophar was used in a very small quantity on a localised bed as a spot treatment during the trial; it was unclear whether other authorities were using dicophar in this way;

·         Limited resources should not be used as an excuse to use potentially toxic products;

·         Glyphosate was still being used by the Countryside Team to deal with Japanese knotweed;

·         Concern was expressed that the Council does not currently have a policy for weed management; this could be referred to the Overview Committee;

·         Decline in honey bee colonies and efficiency was of serious concern;

·         Exmouth Town Council had invested in a ride on weed-ripper which provided a good alternative for weed management;

·         There should be a balance between tidiness and wild areas, given that weeds are wildflowers which are important for pollinators. 

·         It was important for people’s well-being to properly maintain certain areas and carefully controlled use of certain products, supported by scientific knowledge, provided a good means to do this.

The Director of Place highlighted the reference in the report to the ‘integrated weed management framework’ which provides a hierarchy whereby chemicals are only used as a last resort. It was understood that the Committee was seeking reassurance that this was the case.

The Director of Place would discuss this with Officers in terms of what resources would be required to bring further consideration of the integrated weed management framework to the Overview Committee within a reasonable timescale.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommended to Cabinet that:

1.    Streetscene discontinue the use of the hot foam method of treatment and continue to use glyphosate-free alternatives and/or manual methods until the efficiency of recent trials can be established,

2.    The Director of Place to consider how the integrated weed management framework can be developed and brought for consideration by the Overview Committee, including consideration of resources and the impact from other services,

3.    Councillors/Town and Parishes to continue to report areas of weed growth on pavements and roadsides to Devon County Council.

The Chair thanked Officers for their assistance in taking this matter forwards.