Some Richmond schools have been ignoring requirements to book and pay for the use of the borough's parks for sports activities, prompting the council to design a new "clear and coherent" policy.

The issue was discussed at Tuesday's Environment, Sustainability, Sport and Culture committee (Tuesday, November 3).

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils' head of culture David Allister said: "I want to be very clear this is not a policy seeking to restrict the schools' use of parks, this is seeking a controlled approach, because, unfortunately, whilst many schools do book and pay for their use of parks, there are many that don't, and we've had a few battles over the years with schools who simply refuse to."

He emphasised that the policy was not to charge "an exorbitant fee, but about getting control so we know who is booking, when they're booking, so we can control that use of parks."

He explained that parks, depending on the year, can take different levels of useage.

In very wet years, they can take less activity, for example, and if they are overused they can become damaged.

Mr Allister said currently pitch hire for a school is a "modest" £14.60 for a two-and-a-half hour booking.

He said that schools that do not have green space of their own, and use council parks on a daily basis for lunchtimes and sports activities could sort out a separate agreement that could include an annual fee for a specific park for a specific number of uses per week.

They would also be required to sign up to code of conduct.

Councillors unanimously approved the approach to the new policy.

But councillors James Chard and J-F Burford argued it was "a little mean spirited" to make independent schools pay the highest rate.

Cllr Chard said: "I think we often think of independent schools as things that are lavishly funded and having lavish facilities, but presumably by definition, those using council facilities aren't in that category, and might be smaller schools operating a tight ship without playing field facilities."

He added: "I would suggest treating all schools the same, with the lower-rate for schools with playing fields, and the even lower rate for schools without, and not worrying about the independent and state school split quite so much."

The proposed three-tier charging policy would see the highest rate paid by private schools, a middle rate paid by state-funded schools with on-site playing fields who wish to use parks occasionally to spare the condition of their own fields, and the lowest rate to be paid by state-funded schools who do not have onsite playing fields.