The Borough of Runnymede is a local government district with borough status in the English county of Surrey. It is a very prosperous part of the London commuter belt, with some of the most expensive housing in the United Kingdom outside central London, such as the Wentworth Estate.
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Borough of Runnymede | |
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Non-metropolitan district | |
Motto: In Freedom We Serve | |
![]() Runnymede shown within Surrey | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | South East England |
Non-metropolitan county | Surrey |
Status | Non-metropolitan district |
Admin HQ | Addlestone |
Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
Government | |
• Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
• Body | Runnymede Borough Council |
• Leadership | Alternative - Sec.31 (Conservative) |
• MPs | Ben Spencer |
Area | |
• Total | 30.1 sq mi (78.0 km2) |
• Rank | 240th (of 309) |
Population (mid-2019 est.) | |
• Total | 89,424 |
• Rank | 272nd (of 309) |
• Density | 3,000/sq mi (1,100/km2) |
• Ethnicity | 92.5% White 2.9% S.Asian 1.1% Black 1.5% Mixed 1.9% Chinese or Other |
Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
ONS code | 43UG (ONS) E07000212 (GSS) |
OS grid reference | TQ0149367283 |
Website | www |
Runnymede is entirely unparished and is largely built-up. The borough's council is based in Addlestone; other settlements include Chertsey, Egham, Egham Hythe, Virginia Water, Englefield Green and Thorpe. At the 2011 Census, the population of the borough was 80,510.[1]
The borough was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by the merger of the Chertsey and Egham Urban Districts, both of which had been created in 1894. It is named after Runnymede, a water meadow on the banks of the River Thames, near Egham. Runnymede is connected with the sealing of Magna Carta by King John in 1215 and is the site of several significant monuments.
Runnymede borders the boroughs of Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Woking and Surrey Heath, as well as the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire. The M25 motorway runs through Runnymede from south to north, with junctions at Chertsey and Egham, while train services in the borough are provided by South Western Railway on the Waterloo–Reading line and the Chertsey branch line.
The budgetary strategy and political agenda are set by The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.
The role of the Mayor of Runnymede is to chair full council meetings and perform ceremonial duties.
Runnymede Borough Council | |
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Type | |
Type | Borough and Non-metropolitan district council |
History | |
Founded | 1 April 1974 |
Leadership | |
Leader | Tom Gracey, Conservative since 18 May 2022 |
Mayor | Margaret Harnden, Runnymede Independent Residents since 18 May 2022 |
Structure | |
Seats | 41 councillors |
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Political groups |
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Length of term | 4 years |
Elections | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 4 May 2023 |
Meeting place | |
Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH |
This Council has held elections by thirds (resulting in elections in May in three out of four years) since its inception. Most of its wards have three councillors. Immediately before each election, a different councillor's seat from the others at ward level is legally vacant.
Political party | Council members | ||
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Conservatve | 24 | 24 / 41 | |
RIRG | 6 | 6 / 41 | |
Independent | 4 | 4 / 41 | |
Labour & Co-op | 3 | 3 / 41 | |
Liberal Democrats | 3 | 3 / 41 | |
Green | 1 | 1 / 41 |
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.[4]
Runnymede is twinned with Bergisch Gladbach, situated 10 miles east of Cologne; Herndon, Virginia, about 20 miles west of Washington, D.C.; and Joinville-le-Pont, located to the east of Paris.
Districts of South East England | ||
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Berkshire | ![]() | |
Buckinghamshire |
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East Sussex |
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Hampshire | ||
Isle of Wight | ||
Kent | ||
Oxfordshire |
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Surrey |
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West Sussex |
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