Issue details

To inform Members of the Executive about the current use of pesticides on public land by the Council’s Streetscene team, the legislation controlling pesticide use and what alternative measures other local authorities are currently adopting.  This information will be used to inform debate on the Council’s use of Glyphosate following the receipt of a petition at the Council Meeting held on 20 April in respect of the use of Glyphosate on Public Land.

On 20 April 2023 the Council received a petition submitted by Councillor Ms C Bainbridge on behalf of Conserving Habitats in Portchester (C.H.I.P), which requested that Fareham Borough Council ensure that, in public areas, it replaces the use of Glyphosate with chemical free weed removal methods, which are better for the environment and pose no risk to humans, wildlife and pets.

A small number of councils have initiated either a partial herbicide ban, or glyphosate ban for general use.  However, it appears that all authorities are still using glyphosate to treat invasive species such as Japanese knotweed.

The Council’s Streetscene Scrutiny Panel received a presentation on the Council’s Pesticide Treatment Programme at the meeting on 26 January 2023.  Members of the Panel were very supportive of the suggestion put forward in the presentation that a Policy be developed to regulate the Council’s use of pesticides and to provide details of the measures being considered to reduce them.

As the first step in the development of a policy, officers have contacted other local authorities and reviewed recent trials and studies about the use of glyphosate for weed control which indicates this remains the most sustainable option.