The Head of Corporate Strategy has submitted a report to make recommendations to Cabinet over the use of Glyphosate by Oxford Direct Services to control weeds on behalf of Oxford City Council.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.        Approve that the Council continues to use Glyphosate for its current limited purposes with this position kept under periodic review until such point as Government changes its advice on use of this herbicide, or another viable, economic and effective treatment emerges; and

2.        Approve that the usage of Glyphosate to manage weed intrusion in paved surfaces is delivered uniformly across the city to meet needs.

The Head of Corporate Strategy had submitted a report to make recommendations to Cabinet about the use of Glyphosate by Oxford Direct Services to control weeds on behalf of Oxford City Council.

Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies introduced the report, which presented the outcome of a review of glyphosate, its use in Oxford, and the cost and effectiveness of alternative weed treatments.  The outcome of the review had been to recommend the continued controlled use of glyphosate. In common with many other councils, glyphosate was used very selectively by ODS on behalf of Oxford City Council to manage certain hard to treat weeds in certain locations, including Japanese Knotweed.  Whilst alternative weed treatments existed they were both expensive and less effective: several councils which had previously ceased glyphosate use had reverted to it for these reasons. 

Councillor Chapman clarified the regulatory position on glyphosate and that it was approved for use in the UK.  The European Commission had recently extended glyphosate’s licence for another ten years for use in Europe.

In terms of ecology, it was noted that the Council’s Ecology Officer had commented that glyphosate was the only proven treatment for invasive species.  Failure to treat invasive species also had an adverse effect on biodiversity.

Cabinet heard that glyphosate was used by ODS only in a safe, targeted and controlled way and only where it was needed.  Care was taken to ensure that staff who used it wore protective masks and were properly trained, and that weather conditions were suitable.

Councillor Chapman clarified that a decision to approve the continued controlled use of glyphosate would apply across the whole city.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.        Approve that the Council continues to use Glyphosate for its current limited purposes with this position kept under periodic review until such point as Government changes its advice on use of this herbicide, or another viable, economic and effective treatment emerges; and

2.        Approve that the usage of Glyphosate to manage weed intrusion in paved surfaces is delivered uniformly across the city to meet needs.