1. Which glyphosate-based herbicides [1] are currently used by or on behalf of the Council and/or on land owned by, managed by, or under the control of, the Council?
Glyphosate See 3.2 within the Devon County Council Asset Management Group Policy & Procedure Combined Weed Control / Clearance Policy.
Glyphosate and Sulfosulfron Policy See 3.3 within the Devon County Council Asset Management Group Policy & Procedure Combined Weed Control / Clearance Policy.
Within Exeter, Exeter City Council also carry out weed spraying on behalf of Devon County Council. More information concerning this can be found on this Devon County Council webpage.
2. For the most recent 12-month period for which information is available, please could you tell me the amount and brand of each glyphosate-based herbicide in question, as well as the size of the area over which they were used.
To ensure the equality of bidder treatment required under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, Devon County Council avoids expressing preferences for specific products when carrying out procurements for goods, services or works. In certain very limited circumstances where the authority needs to cite a specific product as an example to enable bidders to understand the authority’s requirements with a sufficient degree of precision, the authority will also state its willingness to consider other products.
Control of weeds prior to footway Construction works (Slurry Seal) as a preventative measure 43.5 litres for the past 12month period.
Control of weeds prior to footway Construction works as a preventative measure Zero litres for the past 12 month period.
Control of Invasive and Noxious Weeds litres for the past 12month period 7.5 litres.
Control Weeds in Granular Bed on the Priority Network (French Drains) 102.50 litres.
3. Please could you explain the basis for (i) the Council’s choice of particular product(s), and (ii) the Council’s decision to use glyphosate-based herbicides rather than alternative methods. Please could you provide me with copies of any policy or other document which informs that decision-making.
Please see the Devon County Council Asset Management Group Policy & Procedure Combined Weed Control / Clearance Policy.
4. I understand that, if the Council uses, or instructs other to use, plant protection products (including glyphosate-based herbicides) then the Council is required by law [2] to ensure [3] that:
* all reasonable precautions are taken to protect human health and the environment;
* the application of the plant protection product is confined to the crop, land, produce, buildings, contents of buildings, materials or other areas intended to be treated;
* and when the product is used in places of heightened concern (which includes, among others, areas used by the public or vulnerable groups [4], areas in the close vicinity of healthcare facilities, and on or along roads, railway lines, very permeable surfaces, or other infrastructure close to surface water or groundwater) that the amount used and the frequency of use are as low as reasonably practicable.
Please explain how the Council ensures that it complies with the requirements set out in the paragraph above, particularly in terms of operational decision-making by the Council?
Contractors are National Highway Sector Schemes NHSS 18 accredited and or BASIS registered.
5. Please provide me with copies of any policy or other document which informs the Council’s decision-making in relation to compliance with the legal requirements set out in paragraph 4 above. Please also provide copies of evidence of the Council’s decision-making over the past 12 months relating to the records of decisions taken to ensure the amount of plant protection products used and the frequency of use are as low as reasonably practicable.
Please see the Devon County Council Asset Management Group Policy & Procedure Combined Weed Control / Clearance Policy.
The policy was approved by Cabinet on 8th April 2015. No decisions have been made in the last 12 months to modify the policy.
[1] Defined to include products containing glyphosate.
[2] Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012, Regulation 10
[3] Regulation 10 (1)
[4] Defined to include “persons needing specific consideration when assessing the acute and chronic health effects of plant protection products. These include pregnant and nursing women, the unborn, infants and children, the elderly and workers and residents subject to high pesticide exposure over the long term”.