FOI Request - Use of Herbicides

Request 101003698747

I am writing to enquire about the Council’s use of herbicides in 2024. I would be very grateful if you could please respond to my questions below:

1.    Does the Council, or contractors acting on behalf of the Council, use herbicides in the following areas:
a)    Parks and green spaces YES/NO
b)    Cemeteries YES/NO
c)    Playing fields YES/NO
d)    Road verges and roundabouts YES/NO
e)    Hard surfaces such as pavements and highways YES/NO
f)    Housing estates YES/NO

2.    What volume of herbicides did the Council, or contractors acting on behalf of the Council, use from 1st January to 31st December 2024? Please answer in litres or kilograms.

3.    Does the council, or contractors acting on behalf of the Council, use glyphosate-based herbicides? YES/NO

4.    How much money did the Council spend on costs associated to buying and using herbicides from 1st January to 31st December 2024? Please include all costs, including but not limited to; the purchase of pesticide products, application equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), staff training and costs associated to outsourcing to contractors.

5.    How many complaints did the Council receive about weeds from 1st January to 31st December 2024?

6.    a) Does the Council have a policy in place aimed at reducing or ending the use of herbicides on land under its control? YES/NO
b)    If YES, please provide a link to the policy or provide a hard copy if not available online.

Response 28-01-2025

1.    
a)   YES
b)   YES
c)   NO (not on playing fields but herbicides are used around infrastructure where present, e.g. walls, fence lines)
d)   Herbicides are not used on Road verges but herbicides may be used on roundabouts where required
e)   YES
f)    YES

2.    868.5 litres plus 6kg.  (Breakdown for our records: 858.5 litres of Glyphosate, 6 kg of Valdor Flex, 10 litres of Icade)

3.    YES

4.    £182,600.72

Note of breakdown for our records
• Service of CDA lances £1156
• Replacement Batteries for CDA sprayers - £417.60
• PPE/spares - £1958.22
• Chemsafes £1010
• CDA Cleaner £472.00
• Glyphosate herbicide £8851.83
• Valdor Flex herbicide £1440
• Icade herbicide £460
• Application costs £166,335.07

5.    6

6.   
a) No policy, but the Council’s use of glyphosate has reduced by almost 50% since February 2023.
b)    Not applicable