Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director: Environmental Services

Purpose of report

To set out the use of compost in the Landscape Maintenance  Contract and how the amount of peat present in the growing medium for the urban centre floral units  is being reduced. Peat is a non-renewal resource and using up large amounts of peat can be damaging to the environment in releasing stored carbon and damage finite areas of peat bog land

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1          To note that the Landscape Maintenance Contractor uses no peat based products in any of the Grounds Maintenance activities.

1.2          To note that in 2020 the floral & bedding plants are grown in 50% peat free compost

1.3          To note that the percentage of peat free compost used by the floral unit & bedding plant supplier will increase beyond 50 % over the next few years and be fully peat free as soon as practicable & well before 2030;

Resolved

(1)           That it be noted that the Landscape Maintenance Contractor uses no peat based products in any of the Grounds Maintenance activities.

(2)           That it be noted that in 2020 the floral & bedding plants are grown in 50% peat free compost.

(3)           That it be noted that the percentage of peat free compost used by the floral unit & bedding plant supplier will increase beyond 50% over the next few years and be fully peat free as soon as practicable & well before 2030.

The Assistant Director: Environmental Services submitted a report which set out the use of compost in the Landscape Maintenance  Contract and how the amount of peat present in the growing medium for the urban centre floral units  was being reduced. Peat was a non-renewal resource and using up large amounts of peat can be damaging to the environment in releasing stored carbon and damage finite areas of peat bog land

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Clean and Green referred to the motion that had been submitted to the 24 February 2020 Council meeting and subsequently adjourned due to budgetary implications to enable consideration by Executive before Council debated the motion. The Lead member for Clean and Green advised that Councillor Banfield, who had submitted the motion, had now withdrawn the motion in light of the additional information submitted to Executive, which he had agreed to as seconder of the motion. Councillor Banfield would be submitting a new motion for the July Council meeting.  

Resolved

(1)           That it be noted that the Landscape Maintenance Contractor uses no peat based products in any of the Grounds Maintenance activities.

(2)           That it be noted that in 2020 the floral & bedding plants are grown in 50% peat free compost.

(3)           That it be noted that the percentage of peat free compost used by the floral unit & bedding plant supplier will increase beyond 50% over the next few years and be fully peat free as soon as practicable & well before 2030.

Reasons

The Council is minimising the use of peat based composts with the only area peat is present is in the growing of plants for floral displays & hanging baskets.

Commercial nurseries are moving towards becoming peat free by 2030. Moving too early to peat free is likely to result in a significant risk of additional costs.

Alternative options

Option 1: To reduce the amount of peat in the floral displays and bedding plant production  so that they are peat free before 2030.

Option 2: To move to peat free compost early and have additional annual contract  costs, a potential reduction in income  with the risk of lowering the standard of appearance of the Urban Centres.