Decision details

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

1.  Agree that the Council will no longer use glyphosate to control street weeds and will prioritise funding to mechanical and manual weed removal for street weeds in 22/23 whilst continuing to research viable alternatives.

2.  Agree the areas to be considered within the Neighbourhood Services portfolio for further investment as a 12-month pilot, making a commitment against the council’s £2m Covid contingency budget that has been earmarked to manage council priorities and backlogs on operational services.  This money to be released from 2022/23.  At the completion of the pilot, the outcomes will be reviewed to ensure they deliver the necessary service improvement and considered as part of the council’s financial planning processes for long term service investment in the 23/24 budget.

3.  The Cabinet is asked to take into account issues raised by the Scrutiny Panel when they report back on their findings.

4.  Delegate authority to the Director of Place Management, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, to develop the most operationally effective and value for money delivery arrangements.

Neighbourhood Services (highways maintenance, waste, cleansing, fleet, parks & grounds) has delivered significant cashable service efficiencies during the past 10 years. This has resulted in a risk-based approach to delivery of a number of functions and in some cases, decisions have been taken to stop services.  The Council has invested additional funding in street cleansing in 21/22 and would like to invest further in Neighbourhood Services to improve standards and reinstate some services. 

This report provides options for future investment in these high-profile front-line services for 22/23.  The Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (CES PDS panel) has been consulted on these proposals and will be further engaged as the proposals are developed to be considered through the budget setting process.

The Cabinet also is committed to immediately stopping the use of glyphosate to treat street weeds throughout the district on a permanent basis.  One of the proposals include investment into mechanical and manual removal until other viable treatment solutions can be identified.

This report details areas for consideration through the Council’s budget process.  Other areas will come forward through the CEPD Scrutiny Panel work, and through the process itself.