Date of meeting: 23 January 2024

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed at each ordinary meeting for questions submitted by a member of the public.

The question will be answered without discussion. The person who asked the question may ask one relevant supplementary question, which shall be put and answered without discussion. The person to whom a question, or supplementary question, has been put may decline to answer it.

The following written questions have been received from members of the public:

(1) DBS Checks- Andrew Caldwell

Traffic wardens require a standard level DBS check because they can issue fines of £60 at their discretion, which leaves them vulnerable to bribery. Why don't any of our Environmental Enforcement Officers, who have greater powers, such as issuing fines of £300 for littering, taking personal details, and right of entry to private commercial premises presumably including places with vulnerable children and adults, have even basic level DBS checks?

(2) Steve Geliot- Glysophate

The report on possible return to use of glyphosate contains insufficient science about the safety of this known carcinogen including links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Any use of pesticides is well known to have a harmful impact on our biological diversity that also exists on our pavements and roads – not just our green spaces and parks. Can the Chair please offer more detail on how wildlife more broadly will be affected by these plans and reconsider the return to use of this harmful chemical?

(3) Vanessa Barden- Verges

Will the council reconsider the current practice of allowing narrow grass verges adjacent to pavements in residential areas to go to seed? This is because this practice is considerably worsening weed growth in pavements. Mowing these verges before they go to seed would reduce the use of glyphosate therefore.