Issue - meetings

Decision:

The Executive considered and approved the proposed chemical reduction measures in 2022 as set out in Appendix 6 of the report and to commit the Council to working with Surrey County Council (SCC) in developing a joint pesticide policy.

Reason:

To implement the resolution as agreed by the Council at its meeting on 7 December 2021

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

On 4 August 2021, an e-petition was launched on the Council’s website requesting the Council to make Guildford pesticide-free.

The e-petition and supporting paper petition attracted over 500 signatures and in accordance with the council’s procedure rules was debated by full Council on 7 December 2021.  Following the debate, the Council resolved: “That the Executive be requested to urgently consider and approve the proposed chemical reduction measures in 2022 set out in Appendix 6 to the report submitted to the Council, and to commit the Council to working with Surrey County Council in developing a joint pesticide policy.”

The Lead Councillor for Environment introduced the item and set out the proposals in the report.

It was noted that during clearing of a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) in the borough pesticides were used. It was noted such activities were not always within the control of the council but there would be engagement and partnership work to reduce usage as set out in the appendices. The Leader agreed to explore the possibility of imposing conditions with regards to the use of pesticide at planning application stage.

There were legal restrictions on the use of pesticides as set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and in certain areas the council had stewardship arrangements with Defra that jointly agreed the best management approach.

It was acknowledged that the council was legally required to record the detail of the use of  Glyphosate. It was suggested that the record should be in the public domain and easily accessible.

There was an endorsement of developing a close partnership with Waverley Borough Council and the Pesticide Action Network and it was noted that a meeting organised by Surrey Wildlife Trust would shortly be held involving all key partners and all other local authorities in Surrey. On agreement of the recommendations this would become an ongoing event.

The Leader thanked the members of the public that had raised the petition and brought the matter to the attention of councillors. A copy of the report would be emailed to the organisers for their information.

RESOLVED:

To approve the proposed chemical reduction measures in 2022 as set out in Appendix 6 of the report and to commit the Council to working with Surrey County Council (SCC) in developing a joint pesticide policy.

Reason:

To implement the resolution as agreed by the Council at its meeting on 7 December 2021.

The Council considered a report on the receipt of a joint petition and e-petition, containing a combined total of 534 signatories and e-signatories, requesting the Council to ‘Phase out the use of pesticides, including glyphosate, in Guildford.’

As there were in excess of 500 signatures, the Council’s Petition Scheme required the full Council to debate the matters raised by the petition/e-petition and to indicate to the petition organisers what action the Council proposed to take in response.

The report included the petition organisers’ supporting statement accompanying the petition, which had stated:

“Every year, our pavements, streets, parks, playgrounds and other open spaces in Guildford are sprayed with pesticides. In particular, glyphosate is used across the borough on a regular basis. Inevitably, we as Guildford residents come into contact with these pesticides, as do our children, pets and local wildlife.

Pesticides (including glyphosate) have been linked to an array of health problems, from neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, cancers such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to autism in children. Vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk of being affected.

As well as damaging human health, pesticides harm urban biodiversity. Pesticides are key contributors to the dramatic reductions in insects such as bees and other pollinators. Glyphosate has been shown to affect bees’ ability to navigate, their sleep, larval development, and immunity to deadly infections. Glyphosate also kills flowering plants that bees and other insects rely on. This reduction in pollinators has far-reaching consequences for both wildlife and people.

Pesticides contaminate our water supply and harm aquatic life. They also poison our soils and harm soil invertebrates such as worms.

Urban pesticide use is unnecessary. Many towns and cities around the world have banned them. Pesticides are banned in all green public spaces across the whole of France. Copenhagen and Seattle manage their public spaces without pesticides. Councils across the UK are showing it can be done too with over 60 councils now implementing programs to phase out their use. Locally, Waverley borough, Petersfield and Chichester have all committed to phase out pesticides whilst trialling alternatives.

Well tested, cost effective and safe non-chemical alternatives to pesticides exist and are already being used in other towns locally. Using alternatives, or simply leaving some weeds in place to flower (where they do not cause a hazard) would have a positive impact on biodiversity and human health in Guildford.

We are asking Guildford Borough Council to phase out the use of pesticides, including glyphosate, in Guildford.

Please support us, sign this petition, share it with your friends and help make our town pesticide free.

This petition has been organised by Guildford Environmental Forum, a voluntary organisation that works to promote environmental protection in and around Guildford.”

The co-organisers of the petition Helen Harris and Frances Rollin, who were also members of the Guildford Environmental Forum, made a statement to the Council in support of their petition.  Nick Mole (Policy Officer, Pesticide Action Network UK) also addressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76