Agenda item

This item was considered following item 6 (Active Travel and Cycling Networks Update).

Andrew Loosemore (Head of Highways Asset Management) and Robin Hadley (Soft Landscape Asset Manager) were in virtual attendance for this item.

1.    Mr Brazier introduced his proposed decision to procure and delegate authority to the Director of Highways and Transportation to award and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements for the provision of Highway Weed Control including any potential extension periods. He informed the committee that the contracts allowed KCC to continue to effectively eliminate weeds on the highways network’s hard surfaces which was essential for road safety.

2.    Mr Hadley provided further information on the requirements for and scope of the proposed contracts. He explained the existing contracts expired in March 2023 and that they were required by statute to carry out a re-tender, in order to continue service provision. He told members that to ensure a seamless transition the new contracts would need to be in place by 1 April 2023 and that the duty to keep roads and pavements clear of vegetation for highway user safety was a legal requirement. The scope of the proposed contracted works was set out and included two programmed weed treatments per year to highway hard surfaces as well as treatment of Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. It was noted that key performance targets would be embedded into the contracts and that following the initial 3 year contract term that a decision to enact a further 2 year extension would be linked to performance and contract compliance. Regarding consultation, he confirmed that there had been engagement with the Plan Bee group as well as Kent Wildlife Trust on the use of glyphosate.

3.    Following a question from Mr Lewis, Mr Hadley confirmed that there had been no significant changes in highway weed control methodology in recent years which meant that costs had remained stable since 2015.

4.    Ms Dawkins asked for an indication of glyphosate unit cost and whether there was any scope to phase out its use by 2030. Mr Hadley confirmed that due to supply chain issues the market price of 5 litres of glyphosate had increased from around £25 to £40 over the past year, though it was noted that a market correction to the previous price was expected. Regarding the phasing out of glyphosate, he explained that the proposed contracts contained alternatives to minimised glyphosate use and trial other options. He made members aware of the downsides of some alternative weed control methods.

5.    Mr Hood commented that a hybrid approach to weed control, which expanded the proposed trials into other methods, should be adopted as soon as was practicable.

6.    Mrs Dean asked whether Highways could explore the possibility of designing out opportunities for weeds to grow on highway hard surface assets. Mr Jones explained the technical design process in place, which prioritised future proofing infrastructure for maintenance and noted that reducing weeds was within this remit.

7.    The chairman stated that whilst he was in favour of eliminating chemicals from the environment that the alternatives to glyphosate were ineffective. He noted that highways had few plants and constituted a small proportion of the county’s landscape and environment, which meant that the impact of glyphosate use on pollinators would be minimal.

RESOLVED to endorse the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport on the proposed decision to procure and delegate authority to the Director of Highways and Transportation to award and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements for the provision of Highway Weed Control including any potential extension periods.