West Berkshire agrees to join with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse to create proposed Ridgeway Council

West Berkshire has agreed to join with two other councils in Oxfordshire.

West Berkshire’s executive committee has approved and submitted a plan by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils, indicating an intention to develop proposals for the creation of a new unitary council.

It’s called Ridgeway Council.

If adopted, it would see the option for the creation of a new unitary council covering the existing districts of West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

But it would also see a cut or reshaping of job roles, which duplicate across the councils and will most likely lead to a reduction in the number of councillors, throwing up some interesting political shapes.

Currently, all three authorities are Lib Dem-led.

It is considered that there are clear demographic and economic similarities between the three districts.

It is also of note that prior to local government reorganisation in 1974, the two Oxfordshire councils were in the geographical boundary of the old Berkshire.

The English Devolution White Paper outlines the government’s plans to reset the relationship with local and regional government.

The government stated that rebuilding and reforming local government would be the foundation of devolution, with a focus on getting the basics right.

However, if West Berkshire Council fails to participate in this exercise now to submit an interim proposal, there would be a risk that creating a new council with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse will no longer be an option.

After the initial submission in March, following the guidance from government, there will be a period of public engagement prior to the councils submitting final proposals, where people will have the opportunity to have a say.

All three council leaders have indicated that the Ridgeway Council proposal is their preferred option, and the final decision rests with the Government. In the meantime, all councils remain in constructive discussion with other neighbouring authorities on other options.

The new unitary areas would bring together services such as housing, education, social care and public health, which will enable effective prioritisation and joined-up delivery mechanisms.

Being a greater footprint, the new unitary areas will be able to procure services in a strategic manner, enabling what the interim paper describes as ‘efficiencies and improvements’ across all procurement activity through economies of scale.

A further proposal is being developed for a Thames Valley Strategic Authority. This one is likely to have a mayor, and consist of at least Berkshire and Oxfordshire. It is considered that the three districts will support that devolution plan, with clear transport infrastructure and gateways being located in these areas.