a) Question from Aileen Owen Davies to the Leader of the Council

“The whole landscape of Runnymede is considerably less “green” than it was a few years ago. In my part of Runnymede very few trees seem to have been planted. There are so many spaces which could become little mini forests such as suggested by the RHS, I have seen no evidence of this. There are many other places where trees would enhance the look, air and carbon absorption of the area.

Increasing green cover will be a benefit to the beauty of the area and with the looming Climate Catastrophe, it is hugely important. They offer shade, habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as benefiting the quality of the air.

Trees in Conservation Area gardens cannot be either pruned or felled without council permission. Trees in other gardens can be felled whenever the owners wish. There should be similar controls for all properties. Presumably those on public ground do have to have council permission.

So I ask now, how many trees have been felled in Runnymede and how many have been planted during the past year and what is your “greening” plan for the future?”

b) Question from Deborah Long to the Leader of the Council

“A lot of Runnymede residents are concerned with the power the wealthy landowners seem to have over the council and planning department.

I hope the billionaires aren't intimidating the council into passing the planning applications and that they are dealing with them as they would any other individual’s planning application and they follow planning due process.

Is the planning department urged not to refuse planning applications because they can't afford to fight the constant appeals?”

(a) Aileen Owen Davies asked the Leader of the Council:

“The whole landscape of Runnymede is considerably less “green” than it was a few years ago.  In my part of Runnymede very few trees seem to have been planted.  There are so many spaces which could become little mini forests such as suggested by the RHS, I have seen no evidence of this.  There are many other places where trees would enhance the look, air and carbon absorption of the area.

Increasing green cover will be a benefit to the beauty of the area and with the looming Climate Catastrophe, it is hugely important.  They offer shade, habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife, as well as benefiting the quality of the air.

Trees in Conservation Area gardens cannot be either pruned or felled without council permission.  Trees in other gardens can be felled whenever the owners wish.  There should be similar controls for all properties.  Presumably those on public ground do have to have council permission.

So I ask now, how many trees have been felled in Runnymede and how many have been planted during the past year and what is your “greening” plan for the future?”

The Leader replied in the following terms:

“It is great to have advocacy for more trees in the borough.  That said, it’s worth noting that the benefits of green areas and carbon sequestration can also be achieved in lots of other ways, in addition to the planting of trees.  Habitats provided through grassland, heathland, and even wetlands, can offer substantial wildlife benefits, not to mention the absorption of carbon dioxide.

Runnymede Borough Council is seeking to maximise its efforts to achieve greater conservation value to our sites through stewardship schemes, volunteer provision and changes in policy.  The Council will shortly be considering a new meadow policy – to name one example – and we are actively working to bring forward a Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, to name another.  The intention of these, and other policies and strategies, is to ensure that there are strong themes of commitment to both the conservation of biodiversity, and to address climate change in support of our Strategy approved in 2022 as part of our Corporate Business Plan.

This Council will also be working with developers to realise the benefits of biodiversity net gain responsibilities within Runnymede.  Furthermore, the Council appointed a Biodiversity Officer in October 2023 with a view to reviewing policies and making positive contributions to both nature conservation and climate change.  I am proud that the Council has a set out a commitment to supporting our environment that is further set out in our Climate Change Strategy.

In terms of specifics, in response to your question – over the last 12 months the Council has felled approximately 70 trees due to their condition (either dead, diseased or for reasons of health and safety).  At the same time, the Council has been responsible for the planting of approximately 540 trees.  A ratio of just under 8:1.

Through our Environment and Sustainability Committee this Council has, since last month, commenced a tree audit of the estimated 35,000 trees that Runnymede Borough Council is responsible for which are sited on communal land, in parks, open spaces, suitable alternative natural greenspace sites, on amenity land and across estates.  Following this audit we are exploring the possibility of people adopting trees or becoming tree wardens to further foster the link between our residents and our lived environment.

In respect of trees on land that the Council is not responsible for, we do not hold data on the number of trees felled or planted within private woodlands or gardens, although any trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order would require a private individual or business to contact the Council to seek approval prior to any work being undertaken on those trees.”

Aileen Owen Davies asked whether there were agreed plans for planting trees, or for preventing the felling of trees in conservation areas?  The Leader committed to providing a written response to this question.

(b) Deborah Long asked the Leader of the Council:

“A lot of Runnymede residents are concerned with the power the wealthy landowners seem to have over the council and planning department.

I hope the billionaires aren't intimidating the council into passing the planning applications and that they are dealing with them as they would any other individual’s planning application and they follow planning due process.

Is the planning department urged not to refuse planning applications because they can't afford to fight the constant appeals?”

The Leader replied in the following terms:

“Each planning application submitted to the Council is considered in the same manner and they are assessed on their individual merits as required by planning law.  All applications are treated in the same way regardless of who they are submitted by.

To the best of my knowledge, no person is attempting to intimidate or otherwise unduly influence the Council or Planning Department in to approving planning applications. 

Where the Council decides to refuse planning applications it can only do so where there are clearly defensible grounds that would stand up to scrutiny at appeal.  There is no instruction or policy adopted to not refuse planning applications based on concerns about the possible cost of fighting an appeal.  Planning applications will only be approved or refused on their individual merits.”

There was no supplementary question.