Agenda item - Service Developments - Public Realm (10:13 am)

This report focuses on the everyday tasks of street cleansing, parks, open spaces and grounds maintenance.

Resolved:

i) That the content of the report be noted and that the commencement of the proposed changes in the management of verges and open space in selected areas identified in the report be agreed.

Reason: To build climate resilience and adaptation to climate change and improve the biodiversity of our green spaces by determining how these spaces will be managed in the future; recognising that not all changes can be made immediately.

ii) That the content of the report be noted and that the commencement of the proposed changes in the management of sustainable planting across the city be agreed.

Reason: To initiate a move to more sustainable and pollinator friendly planting across the city by trialling new approaches commencing with key locations around the city centre.

iii) That the report be noted and the amount of glyphosate used in the treatment of weeds across the city be reduced by moving to two sprays citywide.

Reason: To reduce the amount of glyphosate used in the treatment of weeds across the city delivering on the Council Plan.

iv) That the Director of Transport, Environment and Planning be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Procurement, to take all steps necessary to procure, award and enter into contracts to deliver and effectively implement weed control treatments across the city.

Reason: To enable a contract to be put in place in a timely manner to ensure the treatment of weeds is delivered by an approved contractor and effectively monitored in line with budget commitments.

v) That the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning be given delegated authority to trial alternative weed treatment options not previously trialled in York, so they can be appraised for their effectiveness and ability to be replicated across the city.

Reason: To inform the future direction of weed treatment approaches and to ensure the Council can trial any emerging technologies in an effective manner and can reduce glyphosate usage as soon as possible.

The Executive Member considered a report that focussed on the everyday tasks of street cleansing, parks, open spaces and grounds maintenance.

The Director of Transport, Environment and Planning noted the proposed changes to weed control methodologies which sought to reduce the amount of glyphosate used. He confirmed that officers had tried to find an alternative to glyphosate but those trials had proved not to be effective and cost significantly more.He noted that the recent trial of providing two treatments of glyphosate had been successful and that the recommendations in the report supported City of York Council’s pollinator strategy to protect and increase the amount and quality of pollinator habitat.

The Head of Environmental Services presented the report and brought to the Executive Members attention various sections that addressed the options relating to urban highway verges, grass cutting, weed control and sustainable planting and bedding. He also noted that officers were committed to working with colleagues in Public Health and various partner organisations to continue to develop changes in the future.

During his update, the Head of Environmental Services highlighted that:

· grass cutting on housing land and highway verges would be maintained with approximately six cuts per year, but sports pitches would continue to be cut every three weeks.

· the trial undertaken on selected sites in the city centre to move to more sustainable planting and away from bedding plants would be reviewed and further sites would be included if the ecological benefits were achieved.

· At this moment in time glyphosate remained the most effective method for weed control and was the most affordable option.

· As part of the contract to deliver weed control treatments across the city, suppliers had been asked to commit to trialling any further weed treatment methodologies that may become available.

It was noted that not all the initiatives would be delivered immediately but they offered an insight into what could be achieved in the future. In answer to questions raised by the Executive Member, officers confirmed that:

· Those areas identified for sustainable planting would only be filled and seeded with grass once all other options had been explored.

· Ward councillors, partner organisations and community groups would be consulted on any future management plans, where appropriate.

· Glyphosate was used to treat the perimeter fence of parks and playgrounds but was not used within those areas.

· The trial on using stiffer brushes fitted on the street sweepers to aid with weed removal had been successful and this had been adopted across the city.

· All proposals were developed in line with the council’s budget and the ride on mowers were equipped to cut longer grass.

The Executive Member expressed her gratitude to all staff and she noted the proposals within the report, the council’s budget constraints and the trials that had been undertaken, and she