The Committee was updated on issues relating to ditches, nettles, maintenance schedules for the grassed area and the Section 27.4 (d) request for a costed management plan for the Green.

Officers advised the Committee that in September the meadow and wildflowers on the ditch were strimmed as part of the scheduled annual meadow cut.   The nettles were also cut as part of this operation.   The in-house team had no capacity to rake and collect the arisings.   The Committee was, therefore, asked to approve the use of volunteers to rake meadow hay arisings.

Officers reported that the Cricket Club maintained the Cricket Square to their own schedule.  In the last week of September, the Cricket Club had soiled and reseeded the Cricket Square. The Cricket Club had been reminded that the use of ropes and road pins was not permitted to protect the emerging growth. Open Space Officers would consider instructing legal Officers to write a letter if these had not been removed.  The Runnymede Grounds Maintenance team cut the outfield weekly and the wider amenity grass approximately every 3 weeks.  Some members of the Committee expressed their dissatisfaction with a 3 weekly rota particularly when there was more rapid growth.   Officers advised the Committee that all Green Spaces in the Borough had the same cutting schedule and a bespoke service for the Green wasn’t possible from normal grounds maintenance funds.   If the Committee wished to consider more frequent cuts in the next cutting season, these would need to be funded from the Englefield Green earmarked reserves.

The Committee notified Officers that the grassed area adjacent to the play area and the grassed triangle had not been cut during the Summer.   Officers would seek clarification on whether those areas were the responsibility of Surrey County Council or Runnymede Borough Council.

The Committee was asked to approve the use of contractors to complete the overseeding in Autumn 2023/Spring 2024 at a cost of no greater than £2000 from the Englefield Green’s earmarked reserves.  Adding weed killer or fertiliser was not recommended and would not fall in line with the Council’s sustainable planting policy.

Officers reported that in accordance with the approved Woodland Management Plan, works to remove holly, laurel and Rhododendron ponticum from the west woodland would continue.  The cost of these works would not exceed £4000 and would be taken from the Englefield Green earmarked reserves.

The Committee was advised that Officers planned to produce Borough-wide Green Spaces Management Plans and one would be written specifically for Englefield Green.  The Plans would be written over the next 2/3 years with the Englefield Green Management Plan due to be drafted during 2023/24.  A draft of the plan, when available would come to a future Committee.

The Committee was advised that Officers would need to obtain costings for any leaf blowing, top soiling and reseeding from the Englefield Green earmarked reserves. An informed decision could only be made when costings had been received.  As this was urgent Officers would obtain costings and prepare a Standing Order 42 to enable the works to be carried out as soon as possible. 

Resolved that:

Volunteers to rake meadow hay arisings to encourage wildflowers and discourage nettle and grass growth.

Contractors complete overseeding in Autumn 2023/Spring 2024 at a cost no greater than £2000 from Englefield Green’s earmarked reserves.