Wokingham’s Labour group is calling for Wokingham borough council to take action over the vast difference in fees Shinfield residents are being asked to pay for the maintenance of their green spaces compared with other parts of the borough.
Residents fear they are being overcharged, with the cost being 10 times greater than council-owned SANG management fees.
The situation, said Cllr Andrew Gray, the Labour councillor for Shinfield, means the University of Reading, which owns the Shinfield SANGs, is taking advantage of the situation and not being a good partner.
At a council meeting held on Thursday, July 31, he raised the issue of the enforcing agreements relating to Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs), which are designated to offset the impact of development on nearby protected habitats.
Cllr Gray asked: “In Section 106 agreements for residents in Shinfield, it stated that if SANGs are not maintained properly the council should take over maintenance.
“How often does the council check the quality of maintenance of SANGs in Shinfield, and is it satisfied they are being maintained adequately?”
Responding on behalf of the council, Cllr Martin Alder, executive member for planning and enforcement, said the University of Reading holds long-term responsibility for managing several SANG sites in Shinfield under planning agreements dating back to the Shinfield West development appeal.
He said: “The Section 106 agreements within the ‘South of the M4 Strategic Development Location’ allow for ongoing management of some of the SANGs by the University of Reading.
“This was established at the planning appeal for the Shinfield West development to ensure the sites remain available to the public to use in perpetuity, even in the event that the University of Reading ceased to exist.
“To support this, the council secured step-in rights and a contingency sum.”
Cllr Alder confirmed the council meets regularly with the university and is not currently aware of any issues that would trigger intervention.
“The University of Reading is managing the various SANG sites largely in accordance with the approved management plans, and (they) continue to be open and available to the local community,” he added.
Cllr Gray said that Wokingham Borough Council maintained its own SANGs at a rate of approximately £2,500 per hectare.
“Do you think it’s fair that SANGs maintained by the University of Reading cost residents more than 10 times that amount?” he asked.
“The University is supposed to be our partner. What can the council do to reduce this burden and stop this so-called partner taking advantage of our residents?”
Cllr Alder acknowledged the discrepancy in cost, saying that the charges made by the University are “.. considerably higher” than the council fee.
“However, the cost of SANG maintenance is a matter between residents and the University of Reading. The council has no legal power to intervene directly,” he said.
The council, he added, would look into what could be done to support residents.
“I will get back to you to see if there is anything else we can do. This is a common problem in a number of sites across the borough, not just SANG sites, but in other managed areas too.”
After the meeting, Cllr Gray expressed his disappointment with the comments made by the Lib Dem-run council, saying that residents were being adversely impacted by these fees.
These are paid on top of their council tax and parish precepts, which help fund the maintenance of other green spaces across the village.
“The fees for new estates are an additional financial burden for many families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis inflicted on them by Liz Truss’ disastrous budget and 14 years of Conservative government,” he said.
“The council should be doing everything it can to help residents impacted by this postcode lottery.
“We hope they can put pressure on the University to reduce the burden and bring their SANG management fees in line with the borough council.”
