I echo what Joe is saying.
You do NOT have a right to light by law, there is no such thing.
If you have a living room window and someone builds something that blocks it out then you might have a leg to stand on, but not with a tree in the garden.
Also your neighbours do not have to return the cuttings when they prune what's over their side, they only have to "offer" you the arisings.
(This has been debated on the net many, many times).
If they return them without asking then they could be guilty of fly tipping.
If your local council are telling you that someone has rights then you should really expect them to prove it.
As for paying the council, are you sure your not on about the high hedge law?