Background

Oxford and Hampshire have ‘two tier’ local authorities - meaning there’s both a county and district councils, the former covering education, social care and highways and the latter, planning, housing and refuse. There’s usually some service overlap in two-tier areas - parking permits being just one example I’ve come across.

In Berkshire, West Berkshire Council is one of 6 unitary authorities created in 1998 when Berkshire County Council was abolished. The thinking at the time was that the change would increase efficiency and be more cost effective. Lord Banham, the chap behind the plan, had actually proposed 5 unitaries and resigned when it was made 6 after lobbying in the east.

Fast forward to 2024

In November, the government announced a local devolution initiative, focussed on changing all remaining two-tier councils to unitaries, ideally ones serving a population of 500k residents - as a target level for costs and efficiency.

The government identified 6 priority counties that have two tier authorities for this re-structure. These 6 include Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

Whilst already a unitary authority, noting the Government’s desire for such councils to each serve about 500K residents, and mindful of continued cost pressures, West Berkshire Council partnered with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils (each of whom are two-tier authorities within 6 priority counties) to propose a new unitary authority spanning the 3 areas. The (government’s) thinking is that larger authorities bring efficiency and reduce costs.

Having attended a couple of briefings on this (the second of which was made to parish councils) I and colleagues think it is a good/the best approach.

If the new authority - working title of Ridgeway Council - went ahead it would create a council serving between 424,000 and 562,000 residents by 2040.

But our proposal is one of 3, the others being an Oxford county-wide unitary (that, if it went ahead, would mean Ridgeway would not) and a 3-unitary scenario, in which Ridgeway could. There’s more on those other options here

https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/

As for the rest of Berkshire, the other existing unitaries (Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Windsor & Maidenhead) are considering potential alignments. Separately the leader of Reading Borough Council and MP Olivia Bailey, have proposed that if West Berkshire joins Oxfordshire’s reorganisation, parts of western West Berks (e.g., Tilehurst, suburbs) should become affiliated with Reading, as an alignment of identity not a merger. More on that here https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/case-made-for-greater-reading-should-west-berkshire-join-oxfordshire-reorganisation?

The government’s immediate focus appears to be on turning two-tier councils into unitaries,
in 6 counties. Given that other options are being put forward as part of this, I don’t think Ridgeway can be seen as definitely happening at this stage. But West Berkshire Council together with South Oxfordshire & Vale Of White Horse strongly recommend it as the best local solution to the government’s challenge.

More Information

To address concerns that most information ‘drop ins’ occur during the working day and not round here - whilst it’s hard to run them all in the evenings owing to staff’s working hours - there’s a Saturday morning session in Newbury on June 28 and an evening Community Forum in Theale library on 15 July from 18.30 with CEO Joseph Holmes in attendance. To attend the latter, which promises to be particularly informative, please register in advance at CommunityForumQuestions@westberks.gov.uk

Alternatively, feel free to check out this radio show at which local politician put their views on the proposal

https://www.mixcloud.com/kennetradio/local-news-special-the-ridgeway-council-proposal-1st-june-2025/

You can also table questions to my online forum below or come to my drop in on first Saturdays in Mortimer.

https://cllrnickcommunityconnect.freeflarum.com/d/13-ridgeway-council-proposal

Have Your Say

Please complete the survey here https://theconversation.southandvale.gov.uk/corporate-services/two-councils/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK8xExleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuvg6rfmdeW3B3lCEbd_0oQLKY7KWhxgbCbeWFpnUca8V34h21tf0cCT1kg6_aem_07_vjW8BhQXw7eERDyrPPA