Elected Member Briefing - Verge Cutting & Street Weed Control Update

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Andy Clegg, Community Greenspace Manager

Date: 13 May 2025

Subject: Verge Cutting & Street Weed Control Update, May 2025

Purpose

This briefing provides an update on the Council's new public road verge cutting contract and changes made following this year's budget decision, as well as an update on street weed control arrangements following problems experienced last year.  

Briefing Information

his report is a briefing on the new verge cutting contract for the public road network across Perth and Kinross, which will begin at the end of May/start of June 2025 but excludes trunk roads managed by Transport Scotland e.g. the A9 and A85.  It follows a successful collaborative procurement exercise by Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross Councils.  It is an update to EMBN 050-24 issued on 30 May 2024, when the resources available for verge cutting were reduced as part of the Council's savings targets in February 2024.  This resulted in noticeable changes to verge maintenance out with settlement boundaries, with some roads not being cut at all. 

The new contract and additional budget allocated by the Council in February 2025, means private contractors will be able to undertake a full cut over the whole network (A, B, C and U classification roads) and a second cut to A class roads only.  Some junctions or sections of roads where inspections deem there is a safety issue undertaken by a Council Officer, will also receive an extra cut.  This will be sufficient to ensure annual vegetation growth is kept in check whilst achieving some biodiversity benefits by not cutting the whole network twice.  The proposed cutting dates are shown as follows: 

The new contract will be in place for three years and allow for a number of options for verge cutting regimes going forward. The Council's verge cutting will continue to be managed by the Community Greenspace service, working closely with colleagues in the Roads Maintenance Partnership (RMP).  Areas within the 30mph limits of settlements will also continue to be cut by the Council's own Direct Services, incorporating areas to enhance biodiversity and address climate change through the Council's 'Grow Wild' initiative. To report a safety concern please report via MyPKC at: Report a problem in a park, play area or open space. 

Street and hard surface weed spraying was hampered by wet and windy conditions and unforeseen contractor issues last year, as outlined in the Street Weeds briefing 090-24 from 8 October 2024.  The contractor difficulties were addressed over the winter, and they have been mobilised for this season, and two sprays will be undertaken, the first starting mid- May, with an estimated completion mid-July, dependant on weather, the second spray will commence in August with completion by mid-September. This aims to control annual and perennial weed establishment within the pavements, rural footways, road edges, building bases, wall bases, bridge parapets and kerb lines on adopted roads and pavements. 

Contractors have also been engaged to undertake weed control on the following key Grow Wild sites: 

Alyth - Diamond Jubilee Park; Alyth - Market Muir Park; Coupar Angus - Larghan Park; Guildtown Park; Rattray Common; Rattray - Davie Park;  Aberfeldy -Victoria Park;  Blair Atholl, Dunkeld, Kenmore, St Madoes and Pitlochry Recreation Parks; Pitlochry - The Dome, Abernethy - Powrie Park; Bridge of Earn - Victory Park; Forgandenny Playfield; Glenfarg - Wallace Park; Kinross - Kirkgate Park; Milnathort - Donaldson Park; Bankfoot and Muthill Coronation Parks; Errol Park; The Grange; Inchture Park; Longforgan - Helen McGregor Park; Luncarty - Langlands Park; St Madoes - Sidlaw Park; Perth - North and South Inches; Scone Park; Perth Crematorium; and Methven KGV Park.  

The first spray will start mid-May, with completion estimated for the end of June and the second in August with completion by mid-September, subject to favourable weather conditions. Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed will be treated on all sites.  

Further information about grounds maintenance, including street weed control, verge cutting and the Grow Wild Initiative are available at Encouraging wildlife and biodiversity in parks and open spaces and Ground and verge maintenance.