The Civic Mayor introduced the item ‘Glyphosate-free Wirral’ for which one motion and three amendments had been submitted.

MOTION

Councillor Steve Hayes moved and Councillor Chris Cooke seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 -

“Council notes:

The use of pesticides such as glyphosate in the UK has increased by 60% in real terms since 1990 [1]. Italy, Portugal and the Canadian city of Vancouver have all banned the use of glyphosate [or glyphosate based weed killers] and France is working towards this. Mosanto and German owner Bayer face 9,000 lawsuits in the USA from those that believe their illnesses are caused by their products, the first plaintiff won unanimously with many more to follow [2]. Recent studies published in ScienceDirect show a 41% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma caused by exposure from glyphosate-based weed killers and products [3].

Council believes:

·  There is compelling evidence that glyphosate and a wide range of other herbicides and pesticides may be harmful to human health

·  The use of pesticides and weed killers reduces biodiversity, impacting negatively on insects, birds and bees, in a time when the world is losing 2.5% of its insect population per-year [4].

·  Harmful weed killer residues can creep into the food chain.

·  Pets and children should not be playing in parks, in our streets or any area treated with such chemicals.

Council recommends that cabinet resolves to:

·  Phase out the use of all pesticides and weed killers on council land.

·  Cut out all use of glyphosate based treatments in all council-owned parks within one year and across all council-owned land within two years.

·  Trial pesticide-free alternatives during this period. Particularly those adopted by the likes of Hammersmith and Fulham and Lewes Councils who use biodegradable foam or hot steam treatments on weeds.

·  Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, or other invasive species, where there are currently no effective mechanical techniques available. However, in this case chemicals such as glyphosate will only be stem-injected, rather than sprayed, to reduce its spread in the environment.

·  Grant an exception on sprays only in relation to Giant Hogweed where it’s not safe to be dug out or safely removed by other means and then cordon off the surrounding area.

·  Write to the prime minister to inform the government of this Council’s opposition to glyphosate-based pesticides and to call for a UK-wide programme to phase out their use.

1. http://www.pan-uk.org/pesticides-agriculture-uk/ Link to external page/site
2. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/07/monsanto-trial-cancer-appeal-glyphosate-chemical Link to external page/site
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887 Link to external page/site
4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-collapse-of-nature- Link to external page/site”

AMENDMENT 1

Councillor Liz Grey moved and Councillor Julie McManus seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the Motion be approved subject to –

Delete all after: “Pets and children should not be playing in parks, in our streets or any area treated with such chemicals.”

Replace with “Council recognises that WBC does not use glyphosate in Green Flag areas.

Council welcomes the fact that WBC is trialling the use of alternatives to glyphosate, such as hot foam, for use in our other areas, with the intention of phasing out the use of glyphosate as soon as possible.

Council requests Cabinet /or recommends that cabinet resolves to:

·  Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, Hogweed or other invasive species. In such cases, all means possible will be used to minimise the spread of the chemicals into the surrounding area.

·  Write to the prime minister to inform the government of this Council’s opposition to glyphosate-based herbicides and to call for a UK-wide programme to phase out their use.

1.http://www.pan-uk.org/pesticides-agriculture-uk/ Link to external page/site

2.https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/07/monsanto-trial-cancer-appeal-glyphosatechemical Link to external page/site

3.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887 Link to external page/site

4.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threatencollapse-of-nature- Link to external page/site”

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment moved by Councillor Elizabeth Grey was put and carried (54:6) (One abstention).

AMENDMENT 2

Following advice from the Director: Governance and Assurance regarding the amendment as notified by Councillor Andrew Gardner and Councillor Tony Cox in the agenda papers, Council was apprised that having given its support to Amendment 1 above, Amendment 2 therefore automatically ‘falls’.

AMENDMENT 3

Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Dave Mitchell seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the Motion be approved subject to –

Line 1, insert after "Council notes...'

...the research reported within the Notice of Motion as set out here.

Insert additional bullet point immediately after ‘Council recommends that Cabinet resolves to:'

• Request that officers establish how the Wirral can move from a borough where there is clearly a problem with the prevalence of long established and persistent weeds on footways, roadsides and traffic islands  to a borough where the alternative controls and courses of action suggested can be introduced as set out.

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment moved by Councillor Phil Gilchrist was put and carried (41:18) (One abstention).

The substantive motion as amended was put and carried (41:19) (One abstention).

Resolved (41:19) (One abstention) –

That Council notes the research reported within the Notice of Motion as set out here:

The use of pesticides such as glyphosate in the UK has increased by 60% in real terms since 1990 [1]. Italy, Portugal and the Canadian city of Vancouver have all banned the use of glyphosate [or glyphosate based weed killers] and France is working towards this. Mosanto and German owner Bayer face 9,000 lawsuits in the USA from those that believe their illnesses are caused by their products, the first plaintiff won unanimously with many more to follow [2]. Recent studies published in ScienceDirect show a 41% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma caused by exposure from glyphosate-based weed killers and products [3].

Council believes:

·  There is compelling evidence that glyphosate and a wide range of other herbicides and pesticides may be harmful to human health

·  The use of pesticides and weed killers reduces biodiversity, impacting negatively on insects, birds and bees, in a time when the world is losing 2.5% of its insect population per-year [4].

·  Harmful weed killer residues can creep into the food chain.

·  Pets and children should not be playing in parks, in our streets or any area treated with such chemicals.

Council recognises that WBC does not use glyphosate in Green Flag areas.

Council welcomes the fact that WBC is trialling the use of alternatives to glyphosate, such as hot foam, for use in our other areas, with the intention of phasing out the use of glyphosate as soon as possible.

Council requests Cabinet or recommends that cabinet resolves to:

• Request that officers establish how the Wirral can move from a borough where there is clearly a problem with the prevalence of long established and persistent weeds on footways, roadsides and traffic islands  to a borough where the alternative controls and courses of action suggested can be introduced as set out.

• Grant an exception to the above ban regarding the control of Japanese knotweed, Hogweed or other invasive species. In such cases, all means possible will be used to minimise the spread of the chemicals into the surrounding area.

• Write to the prime minister to inform the government of this Council’s opposition to glyphosate-based herbicides and to call for a UK-wide programme to phase out their use.

1.http://www.pan-uk.org/pesticides-agriculture-uk/ Link to external page/site

2.https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/oct/07/monsanto-trial-cancer-appeal-glyphosatechemical Link to external page/site

3.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383574218300887 Link to external page/site

4.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threatencollapse-of-nature- Link to external page/site