Barnet Council has been urged to investigate alternatives to a weedkiller that has been linked with cancer.

Labour councillors have asked the local authority to look at other methods of controlling weeds after a US court ruled that glyphosate – the world’s most common weedkiller – had contributed “substantially” to a groundskeeper’s cancer.

Dewayne Johnson, 46, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014, could be awarded $289m (£226m) in damages following the decision by a jury in San Francisco.

The landmark ruling on August 10 followed years of speculation that the herbicide, manufactured by US chemical giant Monsanto, could be carcinogenic.

But expert opinion remains divided, and glyphosate was reapproved for use in Europe after an EU trial in 2017 found it to be safe.

Despite the EU ruling, several councils – including Hammersmith and Fulham – have halted the use of glyphosate-based weedkillers and are trialling chemical-free alternatives.

Councillor Jo Cooper, Labour member for East Barnet, put forward a motion to full council on July 31 requesting that the council examine alternatives to the herbicide.

Cllr Cooper’s motion called on the environment committee to investigate “the best way for Barnet to go pesticide-free, and report back to full council with options”.

But environment committee chair Cllr Dean Cohen tabled an amendment to the motion before members cast their vote.

The amended motion calls on the environment committee “to monitor the legislative status of glyphosate, regardless of the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union in 2022, as well as cost-effective and results-paritive alternatives”.

Cllr Cooper said: “They effectively made my motion meaningless. I am getting lots of emails – it is definitely something residents feel strongly about.

“The motion was to ask the council to say there are concerns and ‘could the council do a feasibility study or investigate different options?’

“I am asking them to have a look – Hammersmith and Fulham are doing it.”

Cllr Cooper insisted that Barnet residents “want weeds cleared using products and methods that do not potentially risk health to people, pets and wildlife”.

Environment committee chair Cllr Dean Cohen said: “I realise Cllr Cooper is new to the council, but she must work on her attention to detail, particularly if she plans to continue bypassing the democratic process like this.

“The Conservative amendment to her motion clearly requests that the environment committee monitor ‘cost-effective and results-paritive alternatives’ to glyphosate. This is what we will do.”

A council spokesman said: “Barnet’s use of use of glyphosate to control weeds is in line with UK and EU law.

“The use of glyphosate has recently undergone a thorough review in Europe and been reapproved for use as a safe chemical.

“The issue will be discussed further by the environment committee on Monday, October 8.”