Agenda item

Any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures will be reported.

Ms Wakley makes the following representation:

Leicester Friends of the Earth have been discussing the council's use of chemical pesticides in the parks with officers and councillors for the past three years. After trialling a different product last year, the council returned to using glyphosate in parks this year, albeit at a lower concentration than previously used. The council's target for pesticide use in the Biodiversity Action Plan is to reduce it by 50% by 2030. We think that target is disappointingly unambitious when other local authorities have already moved away from chemical pesticides altogether. The Pesticide Action Network provide detailed information for local authorities on how to go pesticide free on their website.

The areas that are sprayed in the parks do seem to have been reduced in the last couple of years - we can no longer see any sign of spraying around tree bases in parks, for example, which is an improvement. (Tree bases on road verges are still being sprayed, sadly.) But we are still seeing signs of spraying around and within children's play areas, which is concerning when it is known that children are more vulnerable to the effects of chemical pesticides than adults. I notice this in my local park in Evington, which makes me nervous about taking my nephew there. Like all toddlers, he likes to play with the soil and I spend a lot of time carrying him away from the sprayed, dead grass around the edges of the patches of woodchip and under the fence. Many people will not recognise what this dead grass means, so they will not be able to protect their children from being exposed to the pesticide residues there.

We are concerned about the use of any chemical pesticides, and glyphosate in particular, for a number of reasons. There have been several studies linking glyphosate to cancers in people, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The research was collated in a meta-analysis published in the academic journal Mutation Research in 2019. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pesticides, because their skin absorbs chemicals more easily and because they are more likely to be playing on the ground. The evidence for the ill-effects of glyphosate on bees and other wildlife has also been mounting over the last few years. It is now known that glyphosate harms bees’ digestive systems, for example, affecting their ability to absorb food, and also damages the ability of wild bees to regulate the temperature of their colonies. When insect populations are falling so alarmingly, we do not believe we should be doing anything to make the situation worse.

Leicester has long claimed to be the UK's first environment city, but on this issue, it is clear that we are not taking the lead. In fact, we are falling far behind other towns and cities.

Mr Bruce Wakley made the following statement on behalf Ms Hannah Wakley  (Leicester Friends of the Earth):

“Leicester Friends of the Earth have been discussing the council's use of chemical pesticides in the parks with officers and councillors for the past three years. After trialling a different product last year, the council returned to using glyphosate in parks this year, albeit at a lower concentration than previously used. The council's target for pesticide use in the Biodiversity Action Plan is to reduce it by 50% by 2030. We think that target is disappointingly unambitious when other local authorities have already moved away from chemical pesticides altogether. The Pesticide Action Network provide detailed information for local authorities on how to go pesticide free on their website.

The areas that are sprayed in the parks do seem to have been reduced in the last couple of years - we can no longer see any sign of spraying around tree bases in parks, for example, which is an improvement. (Tree bases on road verges are still being sprayed, sadly.) But we are still seeing signs of spraying around and within children's play areas, which is concerning when it is known that children are more vulnerable to the effects of chemical pesticides than adults. I notice this in my local park in Evington, which makes me nervous about taking my nephew there. Like all toddlers, he likes to play with the soil and I spend a lot of time carrying him away from the sprayed, dead grass around the edges of the patches of woodchip and under the fence. Many people will not recognise what this dead grass means, so they will not be able to protect their children from being exposed to the pesticide residues there.

We are concerned about the use of any chemical pesticides, and glyphosate in particular, for a number of reasons. There have been several studies linking glyphosate to cancers in people, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The research was collated in a meta-analysis published in the academic journal Mutation Research in 2019. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pesticides, because their skin absorbs chemicals more easily and because they are more likely to be playing on the ground. The evidence for the ill-effects of glyphosate on bees and other wildlife has also been mounting over the last few years. It is now known that glyphosate harms bees’ digestive systems, for example, affecting their ability to absorb food, and also damages the ability of wild bees to regulate the temperature of their colonies. When insect populations are falling so alarmingly, we do not believe we should be doing anything to make the situation worse.

Leicester has long claimed to be the UK's first environment city, but on this issue, it is clear that we are not taking the lead. In fact, we are falling far behind other towns and cities.”

The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services responded on behalf of The Parks & Open Spaces Operational Manager, advising that:

• Officers have been in contact with Ms Wakerley directly for a couple of years.
• The Local Authority had reduced its usage of Glysophate by 50% since 2017. It now used around 1800 litres per annum.
• The Local authority has been working with the Pesticide Action Network which gave guidance for the development of the Pesticide Action Plan.
• A number of alternate products had been demonstrated but with limited success, most recently Finalsan.
• Seasonal conditions impacted on pesticide success rates. 2024 had been particularly wet, resulting in the need to reintroduce Glysophate in some settings.
• Glyspohate was seldom used in parks, play areas and around schools. Other weed killing methods produced visually similar effects. To the human eye, it may not be apparent which method had been employed.
• The Local Authority had reached out across its networks considering alternative products, but to date hadn’t identified any suitable alternatives which were available on the market.
• Glysophate remained licensed for use in the UK until December 2025.
• As an alternative, the Local Authority had invested in mechanical kit to remove weed growth on pavements (weed arm sweeper as an example).
• The Local Authority practices were still leading from within the sector.

Responding to a permitted supplementary question, The Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services advised that:

• The question raised related to a class action case in France against Mosanto (manufacturer of Roundup, a glysophate product) and related to agricultural use. The case could not be commented on as there were no direct links to the council or its practices.
• All council staff undertaking spraying are trained and licensed to do so.
• The Local Authority ensured the health and safety of all staff by only using approved products, upon receiving the correct training. He advised that every precaution was taken, and staff were provided with PPE.
• Tasks were planned and risk assessed to minimise the impact to both staff and the public.