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[1]Corporate Strategy

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Reference: FOI-434418484
Date of request: 04/07/2022
Title of request: Use of pesticides by council

Dear Juliet Ferguson,

Thank you for completing the Freedom of Information Request form. Your
request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 and will be answered within 20 working days.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact
us. Please remember to quote the reference number in any future
communications.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Do not reply to this email as you will not receive a response.

[1]Corporate Strategy

Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex. CM15
8AY. This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. It may contain restricted or privileged
information and should not be read, copied or otherwise used by any other
person unless express permission is given. If you are not a named
recipient, please contact the sender and delete the email from the system.
It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures
are in place to check for software viruses.

We will use your information to provide the service requested. We may
share your personal data between our services and with partner
organisations, such as other local authorities, strategic partnerships,
government bodies and the police. We will do so when it is of benefit to
you, is required by law, or to prevent or detect fraud. To find out more,
go to www.brentwood.gov.uk/privacy.

References

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1. https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/-/corporate...

Reference: FOI-434418484
Date of request: 04/07/2022
Title of request: Use of pesticides by council
Information request:

Dear Information Officer,

This is a request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I
would like to request the following information:

Do you manage your open spaces yourself or are they are outsourced?

If they are outsourced, what is the name of the company/companies that
manage them?

What is your policy for weed control in the open spaces - parks, sports
fields, grass verges etc?

Do you use herbicides containing glyphosate eg Roundup, Weedol etc If yes,
what do you use What areas have been sprayed with herbicides containing
glyphosate?

What is your policy on the use of glyphosate?

What precautions were taken ahead of its use?

For the calendar years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, please can you
tell me:

The volume of these herbicides you have you used The cost

I would like to receive the information electronically - preferably in an
Excel format. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is
not possible within a reasonable time frame, or the request is too broad
or too vague, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide
assistance as to how I could refine the request.

Dear Juliet Ferguson,

Thank you for your submitted request of the 7 April 2022 where you
requested information about use of pesticides by the council.

The information you requested is enclosed.

1. Do you manage your open spaces yourself or are they are outsourced? 

 In-house.

2. If they are outsourced, what is the name of the company/companies that
manage them?

 N/A

3. What is your policy for weed control in the open spaces - parks, sports
fields, grass verges etc?

Application of glyphosate is only used where specified by the safety data
sheet and manufactures recommendations and although the product is
licensed and approved for amenity use, we don’t treat sports fields or
play areas and ground water locations such as ditch lines. We carryout
treatment at a maximum of twice a year, during the growing season. We
select chemicals that have the least environmental impact and have been
approved for use in the amenity sector and hold a license for use in the
amenity sector.  All staff and contractors have received NPTC/PA1 and PA6
lantra training and have a license for the use of weed control products in
the amenity sector, and products are used as described by the
manufacturers.

4. Do you use herbicides containing glyphosate eg Roundup, Weedol etc If
yes, what do you use What areas have been sprayed with herbicides
containing glyphosate? 

We use a Glysophate based product as it is a product that is licensed for
use in the amenity sector by the authorizing body. As stated on the safety
data sheet under section 11 toxicological information, there are no
specific health hazards. On Section 12 Ecological information, it states
it’s not regarded as dangerous to the environment. These statements as
with all chemical treatments are if the product is used as directed, by
the manufacturer, s safety data sheet Currently alternative methods are
limited as many alternatives have environmental or resource disadvantages,
as manual methods will be the only chemical free way of resolving weed
growth issues. We have eliminated the use of chemical controls in some
park areas as we have engaged with voluntary groups to carry out more
frequent maintenance which include manual weed removal. This would not be
practical in all areas such as kerb lines, and pavements and although
regular sweeping takes place to remove detritus where weeds may grow,
additional weed control is required. We are currently investigating the
use of Pelagonic acid weed control treatments as an alternative to
Glysophate and trials will start in the coming year.

5. What is your policy on the use of glyphosate?

Please see answer provided above.

6. What precautions were taken ahead of its use?

All reasonable precautions are taken as set out in the safety data sheets
provided with the product. All staff and contractors have received lantra
training and have a license for the use of weed control products in the
amenity sector.

7. For the calendar years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, please can you
tell me; the volume of these herbicides you have you used; The cost.

We only have records for the below years:

Hiactiv 5L x 6 in 2020 @ £42.20 each

Hiactiv 5L x 4 in 2019 @ £41.50 each

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright.

You are free to use it for your own purposes, including for private study
and non-commercial research, and for any other purpose authorised by an
exception in current copyright law. Documents (except photographs) can be
also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news
reporting. Any other reuse, for example commercial publication, would
require the permission of the copyright holder.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original letter and should be addressed to: 

Complaints Coordinator, Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Ingrave
Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AY

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

If you are not content 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. [1]www.ico.org.uk.

Tel: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate).

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Do not reply to this email as you will not receive a response.

[2]Corporate Strategy

Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex. CM15
8AY. This email (including any attachments) is intended only for the
recipient(s) named above. It may contain restricted or privileged
information and should not be read, copied or otherwise used by any other
person unless express permission is given. If you are not a named
recipient, please contact the sender and delete the email from the system.
It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures
are in place to check for software viruses.

We will use your information to provide the service requested. We may
share your personal data between our services and with partner
organisations, such as other local authorities, strategic partnerships,
government bodies and the police. We will do so when it is of benefit to
you, is required by law, or to prevent or detect fraud. To find out more,
go to www.brentwood.gov.uk/privacy.

References

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1. Information Commissioner's Office
https://ico.org.uk/
2. https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/-/corporate...