Millbrook Parish Council (MPC) welcomes the recommended decision taken at Cornwall Council’s (CC) Full Council meeting to pause the rapid reintroduction of glyphosate for weed control, following an overwhelming vote in support of the motion.

However, MPC is clear that this pause must be seen as a necessary corrective step in response to a process that was fundamentally flawed. The approach taken by Cornwall Council failed to properly engage Town and Parish Councils and did not reflect the principles of transparency, fairness or meaningful partnership working.

Councils were given just 20 days’ notice to respond to a significant policy change (which included the Easter break period), at a point when budgets had already been set, leaving them with an unacceptable choice: either accept the proposal without sufficient scrutiny or opt out and attempt to comply with ambiguous and insufficiently defined standards. This placed Town and Parish Councils in a ‘no win’ situation.  The information provided by CC was ambiguous.  CC did not provide clear specifications of the works meaning Town and Parish Councils could not analyse the workload and subsequent costs.

CC has a statutory responsibility to maintain all highway controlled areas and MPC acknowledge that “weeds” are damaging infrastructure and that a weed management programme is required.  The manual removal is beyond MPC’s current financial position.   CC has not supplied evidence on the costs of  alternative environmentally friendly methods.

MPC welcomes the acknowledgement by several Cornwall Council cabinet members, including the leader of the Council, that this process fell short and recognises the contribution of our local ward member in clearly articulating both the procedural failings and the serious concerns regarding workforce safety associated with the use of glyphosate.

Furthermore, MPC remains concerned that the proposed reintroduction of glyphosate appears to be at odds with both the spirit and intent of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as well as CC’s own Nature Recovery Programme and stated environmental commitments. This raises important questions about policy coherence and the Council’s long-term environmental leadership.  

In 2013, Cornwall Council made a decision not to use glyphosates.   We understand this decision was reaffirmed in 2016.  

In July 2025, we received an email from Cornwall Highways stating ‘Cornwall Council no longer has a budget for general weed spraying and, in accordance with its Pollinator Action Plan, it has restricted the use of pesticides, particularly where they are glyphosate based, in order to reduce the potentially harmful effects on the environment. Any spraying is now restricted to the treatment of noxious weeds such as common ragwort and Japanese Knotweed or for areas where weeds are causing significant structural damage.  Weed removal will only be considered where it is causing a genuine highway safety hazard or if removal is organised by third parties’

MPC expects full and timely responses to the outstanding queries that have yet to be addressed. We also emphasise that any forthcoming consultation must be genuine, transparent, and inclusive, allowing Town and Parish Councils sufficient time and clarity to engage meaningfully in decisions that directly impact their communities.

MPC will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of its residents for a fair process, clear standards and environmentally responsible policies.