Council

Agenda Item 29   

Subject:                    Weed Removal

Date of meeting:    11 July 2024

Ward(s) affected:   All

Notice of Motion

Labour Group Amendment

That deletions are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional recommendations are added as shown in bold italics below:

This Council:

1) Acknowledges the targeted and limited use of glyphosate that was agreed by Council in February 2024;

2) Notes the high volume of complaints Councillors in north many parts of Brighton and Hove receive had previously received about lack of weed removal; the danger of not cutting verge sightlines; the hazard of broken pavements; the risk dogs are exposed to by seeds in long grass; the risk to hay fever sufferers; reports from residents regarding the unsightly state of verges in the city; the need to strike a balance between supporting biodiversity and keeping our neighbourhoods maintained to the satisfaction of residents;

3) Notes that in March 2022, the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agreed to begin a 3-year trial in which the previous 11 verge mows per year would be reduced to 6;

4) Notes that mowing is inadequate some mows scheduled for spring 2024 did not take place; and that insufficient resources have been allocated to this key election pledge available in City Parks following substantial and successive budget cuts to local authorities; that conditions have been such that grass growth is around 20% increased compared to the same period in 2023;

This council therefore resolves to call for a report to Cabinet which considers options in relation to the following issues:

5) Regular The grass-cutting regime, including sightlines and vergesand twittens;

6) Clear Clearer timelines for weed removal so residents know when their streets will be cleared;

7) Prioritizing Prioritising residential areas where elderly residents live who are may be at risk of tripping over weeds and broken paving slabs;

8) The prioritisation of the elderly, the disabled, and hay fever sufferers ahead of an ineffective rewilding policy.

Proposed by: Cllr McNair               Seconded by: Cllr Meadows

Recommendations to read if carried:

This Council:

1) Acknowledges the targeted and limited use of glyphosate that was agreed by Council in February 2024;

2) Notes the high volume of complaints Councillors in many parts of Brighton and Hove had previously received about lack of weed removal; the danger of not cutting verge sightlines; the hazard of broken pavements; the risk dogs are exposed to by seeds in long grass; reports from residents regarding the unsightly state of verges in the city; the need to strike a balance between supporting biodiversity and keeping our neighbourhoods maintained to the satisfaction of residents;

3) Notes that in March 2022, the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agreed to begin a 3-year trial in which the previous 11 verge mows per year would be reduced to 6;

4) Notes that some mows scheduled for spring 2024 did not take place; that insufficient resources have been available in City Parks following substantial and successive budget cuts to local authorities; that conditions have been such that grass growth is around 20% increased compared to the same period in 2023;

This council therefore resolves to call for a report to Cabinet which considers options in relation to the following issues:

5) The grass-cutting regime, including sightlines and verges;

6) Clearer timelines for weed removal so residents know when their streets will be cleared;

7) Prioritising residential areas where elderly residents live who are may be at risk of tripping over weeds and broken paving slabs;