The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which gave an update on the current use of Glyphosate as a means of weed control in Reading, the regulatory and legal status of Glyphosate use, alternatives to Glyphosate and benchmarking with other local authorities.

The report explained that Glyphosate was a widely available, non-selective, non-residual translocated herbicide which killed actively growing plants but would not stop new weeds from growing, which was licensed for use until December 2022.  It had been used by Reading Borough Council to control all types of weeds as it provided a cost effective and efficient means of control and helped the Council to comply with its statutory duty to “keep specified land clear of litter and refuse”.  However, there were serious concerns about the potential harmful effects of glyphosate on human health, particularly its potential as a carcinogen.  As a result; a growing number of local authorities had reviewed or had stopped its use altogether in favour of alternative methods of weed control.

The Council had to consider the scale of Glyphosate use, the likely risks arising from its use, the potential to limit the reliance on the use of Glyphosate products, the ability to find a suitable alternative product to prepare for the future, whilst balancing the legal requirement for weed control on public areas, public perception and protection require weed control to be carried out.

The report also set out the alternatives available, which included thermal, acetic acid, fatty acids, essential oils, manual removal and Flazasulphuron, together with the financial implications of each option.  The report recommended that the Council trial various alternatives in a range of street types and parks during the 2022 growing season, with further report on the results being submitted to the Committee in Autumn 2022.

Resolved –

(1)      That Glyphosate use be continued in order to control weed growth but that its use be minimised until the Council was able to find acceptable substitutes;

(2)      That alternative methods of weed control be trialled in the 2022 growing season with a view to reducing Glyphosate use and creating an integrated weed control strategy;

(3)      That a report on the results of the trial be submitted to the Committee in November 2022 with a set of recommended actions;

(4)      That a trial community opt-out scheme from Glyphosate application be prepared and expressions of interest sought.