Email received 31st March 2026 from Cornwall Council via Localism Team on behalf of Cornwall Council Connectivity and Environment Service

Information to be submitted to Millbrook Parish Council meeting on 21st April 2026:

https://millbrook-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AI7-Cornwall-Council-Public-Realm-and-Re-introduction-of-Weed-Treatment.pdf

Questions submitted to Cornwall Council and responses received – as at 16th April 2026.

Circulation: Clerks of Town & Parish Councils, South East Cornwall Community Area Partnership

c.c. Cornwall Councillors and Chair & Vice-Chair of CAP

Dear Colleague,

Public Realm Improvement and Re-introduction of Weed Treatment

Cornwall Council’s Cabinet has instructed Cornwall Highways & Environment Services to begin a new programme of weed treatment and public realm improvements across Cornwall. This decision follows evidence of declining standards since routine weed management stopped in 2013, resulting in increasing complaints, narrowing footways, damaged surfaces, and perceived reduced community pride.

We have reviewed options and have directed Cormac Solutions Limited to carry out the following on the adopted highway network:

• Targeted manual and mechanical weed removal on the very worst-affected estates (one per CAP)
• Carefully controlled, limited chemical treatment only on the urban highway network where weeds are present, using modern Controlled Droplet Application methods to minimise quantity and footprint.
• Improvements to amenity and environmental areas, including enhanced cutting and better management of urban verges.
• Partnership working with local councils and volunteers, supporting local pride and community involvement.

Please note this directive does not apply to private areas or areas maintained via the waste contract.

The aim of this recovery programme is to restore safe, accessible streets and deliver consistent standards across Cornwall. We want to support strong, safe, clean and well-maintained communities and to ensure Cornwall’s neighbourhoods reflect the pride residents have in where they live.

The default position is that all Cornwall Council maintained areas are opted in, this will include all adopted highway within urban areas as it was in 2013. An opt-out option is available for Town and Parish Councils that wish to manage their areas without chemical treatment, provided they can meet the required standards and protect asset integrity.

In the first instance Town and Parishes should send responses and Opt-out forms before the 20th of April 2026 to your Community Link Officers (CLO) who will collate responses and feed this information through to Cornwall Highways who will then pick up further contact.

We appreciate this is short notice, given the operational need to commence weed treatment at the beginning of May.  However, if meeting this deadline is not possible because you will not be able to consider this at a council meeting before this date, please can you let your CLO know the earliest you will be able to make a decision.

Please disregard this correspondence if you already undertake weed management on behalf of Cornwall Council under a previous agreement.

Please find enclosed (in suggested order of review):

1. The all-member briefing provided to members on the 6th of March 2026.
2. The Public Realm Improvement and Weed Management FAQ
3. The 2013 maps which will be used for the first treatment (NOTE:Green= new treatment area, Red = area as treated via the Waste contract in 2013.) We have attached the maps relevant to your parish area.
4. A draft copy of the Town and Parish Council Opt-Out Agreement
5. Town and Parish Council Opt-Out Guidance
6. Town and Parish Council Opt-Out Form

Yours sincerely,
Dhywgh hwi yn hwir
Cornwall Council
Connectivity and Environment Service
Circulated by Localism team