Agenda item

Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Taylor regarding weeds in Fenland.

Councillor Taylor presented his motion regarding weeds.

Councillor Nawaz seconded the motion stating that during the recent election campaign he had knocked on many doors in Whittlesey, and weeds was one of the major issues causing grievance and is a complaint repeated throughout the district. As minimum, weeds constitute a nuisance making the streets look scruffy and unsightly with rubbish getting caught up in them. He is aware that emergency calls have been made to Highways because excessive weed growth has impeded surface water drainage. The issue is prevalent, and he cannot understand the timing of treatment as suggested by the County Council.

The item was opened for discussion and Members made comments as follows:

·         Councillor Miscandlon said he supported the motion because there has been a considerable increase in ragwort, which is dangerous for livestock and must be eradicated. The only way to do this is to use weedkiller and it needs to be done now.

·         Councillor Count thanked Councillor Taylor for the motion although he took exception to the opening comment about the County Council’s failure to deal appropriately with the weeds. Although not wrong, it was materially incorrect as County Council officers carried out the instructions of the strategic political body that runs the Council. That body is made up of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent Alliance which made a formal decision to stop weed killing despite being constantly warned by other members of the consequences of this approach and the resulting complaints that would come from the public. Those warnings and complaints were repeatedly ignored, and it was not until the groundswell of opinion reached fever pitch that they agreed to do something. There was a delay in immediate action as a little money was put in the budget process, but the budget was not passed until February this year. Spraying could have started in April but did not start until June, and it is now a case of too little, too late. Everyone can see how prolific weed growth is throughout the district and the resulting damage caused by roots which are well established. It will not be easy to eradicate them now with simple summer and autumn spraying. Councillor Count said that the administration then decided that as the weeds have grown too large and are too difficult to remove, they will need to be removed by hand. Councillor Count said he was angry to learn that the limited budget had already run out and many areas had not been touched. He felt it important to say that the county council officers had done a fantastic job of carrying out the instructions of the joint administration, they did what they had been told but this failed the public, despite the administration having been warned that this would happen. Councillor Count added that he is pleased the motion has been put forward; he will be supporting it because the situation as it stands is not good enough. 

·         Councillor Patrick said he would be supporting this motion having seen the state of Wisbech over the last year.

·         Councillor Mrs French said she will support this motion but asked that it be sent to the Chairman of Highways and Transport as this was the committee where the decision was made to overturn the previous decision. She added that Councillor Count is right in saying that very little money has been put into the budget and that some parts of the County do not want the weeds sprayed which is a disgrace.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws said she fully supports this motion and welcomes it. It was ludicrous for the County Council to say they were going to hand weed as it is a false economy. Weeds are coming through the gullies and into the drainage system and surface water has been a huge problem. We all complain about road surfaces, but the weeds have taken grip and are uprooting tarmac and lifting paving stones, which is a trip hazard. It was a ridiculous idea to stop weed spraying and she agreed with Councillor Miscandlon’s point about the danger to animals.

·         Councillor Tierney said that it is fair to say there is a policy difference at County Council level. It seems to him that there is nothing more important to those in charge than their environmentalism which then bleeds into every policy. He wishes that the Liberal Democrats and Independents at County were as sensible as those serving at Fenland District Council as here members work together to find common ground and work forwards and while this is not the case at County Council, these problems will keep arising.

·         Councillor Gerstner said he also fully supports the motion. He had questioned Highways about their agenda for weed spraying in Whittlesey because the weeds are six feet tall in some places, but nobody could say when it would be done.

·         Councillor Davis said that she supports the motion but warned that having asked when her area would be weeded, the date she was given has been and gone so any information they give cannot be relied upon.

·         Councillor Imafidon said he supports Councillor Taylor’s motion, adding that it is a false economy for the County Council not to spray the weeds. This is causing flooding in some areas of Wisbech as they are getting into the drainage system.

·         Councillor Booth said that this is clearly a party-political motion based on many of the comments. The motion was raised last year but people forget that glyphosate must be used in dry periods, and it has been very damp this year but Highways have been applying weed killer and are trying to get round while they can but once sprayed, there needs to be time to allow glyphosate to take effect. The seasons are shifting and changing, and it is getting warmer later into the year. He does not disagree with what people are saying but repeated his opinion that this is a party-political motion. Meanwhile, ragwort can be mechanically removed, and sometimes it has to be in order to remove the roots.

·         Councillor Hoy said she understands Councillor Booth’s point about it being party political, but it is hard to avoid that because the people in charge are of one persuasion. However, she would implore Councillor Booth to tell them a policy change is needed.

Councillor Taylor summed up saying that many farmers do use glyphosate in October to kill off the seeds that have fallen off the back of combines and then germinate, before they start working on the land. That late application also gives them a chance to hit a particular problematic weed for farmers called black grass, but normal annual and perpetual weeds would not be effectively growing in October unless there is a dry, hot summer. Farmers used to look after the roadsides but that was taken away from them. It concerns him that if the County Council are now looking at two applications of chemical spray, are they looking at preventing and stopping grass cutting as well? He thanked members for their comments and support for this motion. 

The Motion was approved.