Decision details

In September 2019, the Environmental Scrutiny Committee published a report titled Managing Biodiversity & Natural Environment in Cardiff.

The report contained forty recommendations one of which centred around the use of Glyphosate for the purposes of weed control throughout the city. In response to the Committees recommendations concerning the use of alternative products and in a Cabinet report in November 2020 it was determined that a trial utilising such should take place.

The Council undertook a trial, focusing on pavement treatment which commenced in the Spring of 2021 and commissioned an independent assessment of the process and outcomes through Advanced Invasives Ltd, a leading invasive plant consultancy in the UK.

The trial sought to determine the environmental, cost, customer and quality factors associated with the use of Glyphosate and alternative products trialled.

RESOLVED: that

1.            the content of this report and the content of the Weed Control Trial 2021 - Final Project Report be noted

2.            the current approach of integrated weed control management and use of glyphosate based products be continued

3.            measures to reduce the use of the glyphosate based products on all Council landholdings, employing alternative control measures as appropriate, be continued

4.            the monitoring of product development for the purposes of weed control within the public realm be continued and considered for future use based on environmental, quality, cost and criteria.

5.            the role and work of Friends of Groups and volunteers in the management of weeds throughout the city continue to be supported