EIR Request - Horticultural Practices

Request 101002573062

1. Does the council manage the grounds for schools, nurseries and hospitals? If so, please provide a list where the use of glyphosate is permitted on their grounds.  

2. How much does the council spend on mowing grass every year? (Please include staff costs of people employed to undertake this (either contractors or council staff) and equipment costs).

3. How much grassed open space (both informal and formal) does the council manage and maintain in total?  

4. How much does the council spend on purchasing bedding plants for floral displays and where are the plants sourced from?  

5. How much does the council spend on the maintenance of these floral displays per year?  

6. On average, how many complaints does the council get about weeds every year?

7. Does the council use peat-based compost? If so, how much is used each year?  

8. How is the council implementing the ‘Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017-2027’ (https://www.nature.scot/pollinator-strategy-scotland-2017-2027)?

Response 11-09-2020

1. Schools and Council nurseries - glyphosate is used on hard landscape areas around obstacles/signs in grass and fence lines.

2. £890,000 

All staff are council appointed - no external contractors carry out any grass mowing on behalf of the Council.

3. 6,100,000m2

4. £10,738.19 Supplied by Councils Greenfingers day care services section

5. £22,118

6. Nine

7. We do use peat based compost, however, in accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of the Information (Scotland) Act 2002, please be advised that we do not record the quantities used. 

8. The Council's new Local Development Plan Policy EP2 Biodiversity specifically references the need for developments to include a range of measures to safeguard and promote biodiversity including "planting to encourage pollination." This is being supported further through additional Placemaking guidance which is being reported to the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee in November  which includes examples of plants which support the Pollination Strategy. As well as the guidance, planning officers feed the need for pollinators into landscape plans submitted by developers during pre-application discussions and during determination of planning applications.