Editing Borough of Runnymede (section)

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature 
| name               = Runnymede Borough Council
| logo_pic           = Runnymede_Borough_Council logo.svg
| logo_res           = 250px
| foundation         = 1 April 1974 
| house_type         = Non-metropolitan district
| leader1_type       = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1            = Margaret Harnden
| party1             = <br>[[Runnymede Independent Residents' Group|RIRG]]
| election1          = 14 May 2025
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the Council|Co-leaders]]
| leader2            = Robert King ([[Labour Party (UK)|Lab]])<br/>Don Whyte ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Lib Dem]])<br/>Linda Gillham ([[Runnymede Independent Residents' Group|RIRG]])<br/>Steve Ringham ([[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]])
| party2             = <!-- multiple -->
| election2          = 15 May 2024
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Andrew Pritchard
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = 1 August 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan veteran to be council's new CEO |url=https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/news/article/139/afghanistan-veteran-to-be-council-s-new-ceo |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=15 January 2024 |date=25 July 2023}}</ref>
| members            = 41 councillors 
| structure1         = Runnymede Borough Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  ='''Administration (24)'''{{plainlist|style=padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:0.25em;|
*{{Party index link|Labour Party (UK)|Labour}}&nbsp;(8)
*{{Party index link|Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats}}&nbsp;(6)
*{{Party index link|Runnymede Independent Residents Group|RIRG}}&nbsp;(5)
*{{Party index link|Green Party of England and Wales|Green}}&nbsp;(3)
*{{Party index link|Independent}}&nbsp;(2)}}
'''Opposition (17)'''{{plainlist|style=padding-left:1em;padding-bottom:0.25em;|
*{{Party index link|Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative}}&nbsp;(14)
*{{Party index link|Independent}}&nbsp;(3)}}
| term_length        = 4 years
| salary             = No salary, but an annual taxable basic allowance of £5,778
| last_election1     = [[2024 Runnymede Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election1     = 7 May 2026
| session_room       = Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone.jpg
| meeting_place      = [[Runnymede Civic Centre]], Station Road, [[Addlestone]], KT15{{nbsp}}2AH
| website            = {{URL|www.runnymede.gov.uk}}
}}
[[File:High Street, Egham - geograph.org.uk - 1499881.jpg|thumb|High Street in Egham]]
Runnymede Borough Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Surrey County Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> There are no [[civil parish]]es in the borough, which is an [[unparished area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since 2023. Following the [[2024 Runnymede Borough Council election|2024 election]] a coalition of [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], [[Green Party of England and Wales|Greens]] and independent councillors formed to run the council.<ref name=Lee>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Shola |title=Runnymede gets innovative political co-leadership |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cydd7rjvnm9o |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=24 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Runnymede |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=runnymede |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Runnymede" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/43ug.stm | title = Runnymede | access-date = 2010-03-14 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date=2008-04-19}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1996
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1996–1998
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1998–2023
|-
|{{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2023–present 
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Runnymede. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council|leader or co-leaders of the council]]. The leaders (or co-leaders) since 1984 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To !! Notes
|-
| Denis Clarke<ref>{{cite news |title=Tory leader going to the back bench |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003603%2F19860109&page=2 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Surrey Herald |date=9 January 1986 |location=Chertsey |page=2}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|1984 ||align=right|1986
|-
| Michael Wheaton<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allan |first1=Arthur |title=In the lead by a cool head |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005000%2F19860213&page=5 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Egham News |date=13 February 1986 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Dominic |title=Leaders pooh pooh Poll Tax |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003604%2F19910425&page=11 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Surrey Herald |publisher=Chertsey |date=25 April 1991 |page=11}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|1986 ||align=right|1991 ||
|-
| Howard Langley<ref>{{cite news |title=Tories stay well on top |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005001%2F19910509&page=10 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Egham and Staines News |date=9 May 1991 |page=10}}</ref><ref name=helm/> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|1991 ||align=right|14 May 1997 ||
|-
| Chris Norman<ref name=helm>{{cite news |title=New man at helm |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003604%2F19970522&page=9 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Surrey Herald |date=22 May 1997 |location=Chertsey |page=9}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|14 May 1997 ||align=right|2000 ||
|-
| Geoffrey Woodger<ref name=20Apr2017/><ref name=15May2003/> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|2000 || align=right|15 May 2003 ||
|-
| Roger Habgood<ref name=15May2003>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2003 |url=http://ww2.runnymede.gov.uk/council/cttees/minutes/commins/AnualCncl_150503.pdf |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401221535/http://ww2.runnymede.gov.uk/council/cttees/minutes/commins/AnualCncl_150503.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2007}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|15 May 2003 || align=right|May 2005 ||
|-
| Geoffrey Woodger<ref name=20Apr2017>{{cite web |title=Council agenda, 20 April 2017 |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/Data/Full%20Council/20170420/Agenda/Agenda.pdf |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|May 2005 || align=right|May 2006 ||
|-
| John Furey<ref>{{cite web |title=Current group leaders and deputies |url=http://www.runnymede.gov.uk/portal/site/runnymede/menuitem.9b0031e1aec8423b963e6e53af8ca028/ |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927081901/http://www.runnymede.gov.uk/portal/site/runnymede/menuitem.9b0031e1aec8423b963e6e53af8ca028/ |archive-date=27 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Election: Blue's the colour for Runnymede |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/election-blues-colour-runnymede-4814670 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Surrey Live |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|2006 || align=right|2011 ||
|-
| Patrick Roberts<ref>{{cite web |title=Current group leaders and deputies |url=http://www.runnymede.gov.uk/portal/site/runnymede/menuitem.9b0031e1aec8423b963e6e53af8ca028/ |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611201222/http://www.runnymede.gov.uk/portal/site/runnymede/menuitem.9b0031e1aec8423b963e6e53af8ca028/ |archive-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} ||align=right|2011 || align=right|May 2016 ||
|-
| Peter Waddell<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2016 |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/Data/Full%20Council/20160518/Agenda/Minutes.pdf |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2016 || align=right|May 2017 ||
|-
| Nick Prescot<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 17 May 2017 |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/Data/Full%20Council/20170517/Agenda/Minutes.pdf |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2021–22 Statement of Accounts |url=https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/downloads/file/1548/statement-of-accounts-2021-22-subject-to-audit- |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025 |page=3}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|17 May 2017 || align=right|May 2022 ||
|-
| Tom Gracey<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/documents/g734/Printed%20minutes%2018th-May-2022%2019.30%20Full%20Council.pdf?T=1 |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Addlestone by-election |url=https://www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/addlestone-by-election-720427 |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Woking News and Mail |date=10 September 2024}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|18 May 2022 || align=right|May 2024 ||
|-
| Robert King || {{Party name with colour|Labour and Co-operative}} || rowspan="4"align="right"|15 May 2024 ||rowspan="4"| ||rowspan=4|Co-leaders<ref name=Lee/><ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2024 |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=163&MId=985 |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=10 January 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Don Whyte || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|-
| Linda Gillham || {{Party name with colour|Runnymede Independent Residents' Group}}
|-
| Steve Ringham || {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}  
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Runnymede Borough Council election|2024 election]] the composition of the council has been:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/england/councils/E07000212|title=Runnymede election results: Elections 2024|work=The BBC}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! At election
! Current Seats
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|align=center|13
|align=center|14
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center colspan=2|8
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center colspan=2|6
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Runnymede Independent Residents Group|full=yes}}
| align=center|6
| align=center|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center colspan=2|5
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center colspan=2|3
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center colspan=2|41
|}
Of the independent councillors, three (all representing Ottershaw ward) form the "Independent Group", which informally supported the Conservative minority administration between 2023 and 2024.<ref name=Caulfield>{{cite news |last1=Caulfield |first1=Chris |title=New Runnymede leader to take on council with no overall control |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/new-runnymede-leader-take-council-26939658 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=Surrey Live |date=18 May 2023}}</ref> Two (both representing Englefield Green East) form part of the majority administration group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your councillors by political grouping |url=https://democracy.runnymede.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Runnymede Borough Council |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> The next election is due in 2026.

=== Elections ===
{{also|Runnymede Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 41 [[councillor]]s representing 14 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]] with each ward electing three councillors except Englefield Green East which elects two. Elections are held three years out of every four, with roughly a third of the council elected each time for a four-year term of office. [[Surrey County Council elections]] are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Runnymede (Electoral Changes) Order 2019|year=2019|number=126|access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at [[Runnymede Civic Centre]] on Station Road in [[Addlestone]]. The new building cost a reported £12.6m and opened in May 2008. The council's former offices were on the adjoining site and were subsequently demolished to make way for a retail development.<ref>{{cite news |title=New civic offices open for business |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/new-civic-offices-open-business-4828911 |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=Surrey Live |date=13 May 2008}}</ref>