Cumberland Council aims to bring the task of controlling the area’s weeds in-house rather than depending on contractors, it has been revealed.
Concerns were first raised in July this year over the state of parts of Carlisle which, it was claimed, were like a jungle due to overgrown weeds.
Two independent councillors proposed a motion about the subject during Tuesday’s meeting of the council at the Civic Centre in Carlisle.
Councillors Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent Group) proposed the motion and he was seconded Stephen Stoddart (Moss Bay and Moorclose, Independent Group).
Cllr Betton said: “Despite two questions being asked at the previous council meeting and countless complaints from residents, there is still no clear policy on weeds, which cause damage to highways infrastructure, and detritus removal from our gutters, roads, pavements, back lanes, footpaths, cuts and in our green space picnic areas, riverbanks, and paths.
“The costs for weed spraying in the current financial year is approximately £107,000 but we have paid contractors for a service which has most definitely not been value for money, and this cannot be allowed to continue.”
Cllr Betton asked that the council agreed to put a policy in place, which includes bringing the weed spraying maintenance contract back in-house for 2023/24, and all areas of the unitary authority are dealt with properly regarding regular detritus, weed removal and control and that the maintenance schedules be shared with elected ward members.
Councillor Denise Rollo (Harrington, Labour), the portfolio holder for sustainable, resilient and connected places, said that it was aimed to develop a single approach for the whole of Cumberland and added: “Bringing services in-house is our intention.”
She agreed that the matter had been raised in that very chamber but said that it should not require repetitive questions.
Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said that, while the matter had been raised previously, there was nothing stopping Cllr Betton from raising it again. He suggested that councillors should not be too dismissive of motions.
However, when the motion was put to the vote, it was defeated with just nine members in favour, 29 against and one abstention.
