The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “Q”) provides a summary of the weed spraying contract that is delivered across the District; reviews the delivery during the past year and considers the future options with regard to weed control on the highway and footpath network.

Recommended –

That the approach to highway weed spraying in the Keighley Constituency be noted.

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Ian Wood – 01274 432648)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place, (Document “Q”) provided a summary of the weed spraying contract delivered across the District; reviewed the delivery during the past year and considered the future options with regard to weed control on the highway and footpath network.

It was explained that the Council was responsible for the treatment of weeds

on the adopted public highway throughout the Bradford district which

included areas such as paved/tarmac footways; kerb edges and channels;

areas around street furniture and hard central reservations. The treated areas

amounted to around 3400km of linear surface.  Members were reminded that

whilst this was a highway function and part of that departments remit the Park

and Green Spaces Service (PGS) had always undertaken the service delivery

of that remit as an addition to the highway verge maintenance undertaken.

Due to the staffing demand, the specialist nature of the work and equipment

required the Council had tendered the work outside of the service area as it

was more cost effective to do so.  The general weed spraying contact had

been successfully tendered out to specialists since the late 1990s.  The

current contact, due for renewal, would be tendered for a three year period

with a one year extension included.

It was explained that since the ban on the use of Residual chemicals (those which lay active in the ground for a long period of time and stopped germination of seedlings) had been introduced in the late 1990s the chemical widely used for treatments, including the Bradford district, had been Glyphosate. The chemical Glyphosate was a broad spectrum systemic weed treatment and used to kill grasses and broad leaved annual weeds and when applied it was absorbed through the plant foliage and, as such, could not be used as a ‘pre emergence’ treatment.  Glyphosate would only kill weeds that were present at the time of spraying and further growth could re-appear following spraying.  The Council, working to confirm with the EU’s proposals for the Water Framework Directive and Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive was looking to reduce the amount of chemicals used in the environment.

The contract requirement was for the contractor to carry out three applications annually of the weed killer Glyphosate.  Appended to Document “Q” was the scheduled programme of works.  The Council had specified in the contract that contractors should ideally use the latest up to date vehicle mounted technology for the majority of the spray application. Such technological advances had developed an application through sensors and infra-red beams that could detect chlorophyll in a plant which allowed only the weeds that were present to be sprayed and conformed to the EU’s requirements.

Alternative methods of treatment which had been considered were reported although it was felt these were too labour and resource intensive and trials had not proved beneficial. 

The report revealed that the number of complaints received fluctuated

year on year and was dependent on seasonal weather conditions.

The statistics from January – November 2017 were reported. To reduce

complaints it was suggested that consideration should be given to include

Highways officers in the monitoring of the contract as the majority of the

contract was predominantly highway based and that department already

employed officers to inspect the footway and highway on a daily basis.

In response to questions it was confirmed that moss on footpaths was not included in the weed spraying contract.  Moss required treating with specific moss killer and that must be undertaken in dry conditions. It was also confirmed that the contract did not include rural footpaths and snickets although some additional funding had been secured which had been used to treat footpaths and snickets in September following complaints.

A Member referred to a number of side streets which had repeatedly been missed during the regular weed spraying applications.  It was agreed that he would provide details of those locations and investigations would be undertaken. 

Resolved –

1)    That the approach to highway weed spraying in the Keighley Constituency be noted.

2)    That the Strategic Director, Place, be requested to assist in the visual inspection of the weed spraying process.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)