Thank you for your email to the Information Rights service regarding
Freedom of Information or Data Protection.

Please take this automated response as acknowledgement of your email.

If you require further information about our services please visit
https://www.waverley.gov.uk/info/200364/...

[1]Visit Waverley Online
Dear Osheen Suzanna John

Thank you for submitting this request for information. We have assigned
your request the following reference: AI2/15342 and will provide further
updates via email.

If you have any queries regarding this request, please contact us by
replying to this message

Kind Regards

Legal Services Team
Waverley Borough Council
How did we do?

[2]Let Us Know

References

Visible links
1. https://www.waverley.gov.uk/
2. https://www.waverley.gov.uk/Services/Cou...

Dear Osheen Suzanna John

Request for Information – AI2/15342

Thank you for your email to request information which has been processed
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Please see your request and the Council’s response below: 

I am writing to enquire about the Council’s use of herbicides in 2024. I
would be very grateful if you could please respond to my questions below:

1.    Does the Council, or contractors acting on behalf of the Council,
use herbicides in the following areas:
a)    Parks and green spaces YES - yes, within sites managed by Waverley
Borough Council. 

b)    Cemeteries YES - yes, within sites managed by Waverley Borough
Council.

c)    Playing fields YES - yes, within sites managed by Waverley Borough
Council.  

d)    Road verges and roundabouts NO - no, adopted highways are managed
and maintained by Surrey County Council, private roads are maintained by
other landowners.

e)    Hard surfaces such as pavements and highways NO - no, adopted
highways are managed and maintained by Surrey County Council

f)    Housing estates YES - yes, within sites managed by Waverley Borough
Council.  

2.    What volume of herbicides did the Council, or contractors acting on
behalf of the Council, use from 1st January to 31st December 2024? Please
answer in litres or kilograms.

Broad spectrum herbicide (glyphosate) – 23.37 litres

Broad spectrum herbicide ecoplugs (glyphosate) – 0.00408kg

Algaecide (didecyl dimethyl-ammonium chloride and Propan 2-olAlcohols) –
14 litres

Herbicide specific to woody weed species (triclopyr and clopyralid) –
20.72 litres

3.    Does the council, or contractors acting on behalf of the Council,
use glyphosate-based herbicides?               YES 

4.    How much money did the Council spend on costs associated to buying
and using herbicides from 1st January to 31st December 2024? Please
include all costs, including but not limited to; the purchase of pesticide
products, application equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
staff training and costs associated to outsourcing to contractors.

Total spent during this period was £24,440.38 This includes purchase of
herbicides, PPE, application and storage equipment but the majority of the
spend was outsourcing the work to contractors (both schedule of rates
prices for our grounds maintenance contract and one-off costs for work
undertaken by specialist contractors).

5.    How many complaints did the Council receive about weeds from 1st
January to 31st December 2024?

2

6.    a) Does the Council have a policy in place aimed at reducing or
ending the use of herbicides on land under its control?               YES 
b)    If YES, please provide a link to the policy or provide a hard copy
if not available online.

See attached pdf.

In the event you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you
have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests
should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. The
internal review will be carried out by a separate Council Officer. 

Please remember to quote your reference number in all future
correspondence.

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review,
you have the right to apply directly to the information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF.
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: [1]https://ico.org.uk/

Yours sincerely,

Access to Information Rights Coordinator
Information Governance Team
Waverley Borough Council

References

Visible links
1. https://ico.org.uk/