Agenda and draft minutes

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The English Devolution White Paper published on the 16 December 2024, outlined 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.

On the 5 February, the government wrote to the Leaders of all two-tier councils (the five district councils and the county council) in Oxfordshire.  This was a formal invitation to those Leaders to develop a proposal for local government reorganisation and to provide guidance on the development of proposals. The government invited the submission of Interim Plans by 21 March 2025, followed by Full Proposals by 28 November 2025.

On the 10 February, West Berkshire Council received a formal request on behalf of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils to consider the option of a new unitary council covering the three areas.  That resulted in the development of an Interim Proposal, that was approved by West Berkshire Council’s Executive at a meeting on 19 March 2025.

The government invited the submission of full proposals by the 28 November, and this report proposes the approval by Executive of the Full Proposal, produced at Appendix A, for submission to Government.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 3) concerning the proposal for local government reorganisation covering the entirety of Oxfordshire and West Berkshire – termed Ridgeway Council (for West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire, and Vale of White Horse Councils) and the Oxford and Shires Council (for Oxford City, Cherwell, and West Oxfordshire Council).

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Justin Pemberton and seconded by Councillor Ross Mackinnon:

That the Council:

A)       “Is informed that, since the statutory invitation to all councils in two tier areas, significant work has been undertaken by all Oxfordshire Councils and West Berkshire Council.

B)       Is informed that there has been significant engagement and collaboration on the development of these proposals by Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, West Berkshire Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and the Vale of White Horse District Council.

C)       Recommends that the Executive approve the submission to Government of a full proposal as detailed at Appendix A, for a two unitary model based on one new unitary council covering the entire existing boundaries of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils and West Berkshire Council, with the working title of ‘Ridgeway’, and a second new unitary covering the entire existing boundaries of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire District Councils and Oxford City Council, with the working title of ‘Oxford & Shires’.

D)       Is informed that two other proposals will be submitted, one proposed by Oxfordshire County Council covering the Oxfordshire area (excluding West Berkshire) and one from Oxford City Council covering the Oxfordshire and West Berkshire area.

E)       Is informed that should Executive agree to the submission of the full proposal for a two unitary model, Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Councill will submit the full proposal directly to Government in line with the Oxfordshire invitation letter.”

Council received a point of order about the report and noted that, at point 5.3, it was the Executive and not full Council that had agreed to submit the interim proposal on 19 March 2025.

Councillor Justin Pemberton introduced the report and highlighted that the proposal was a defining moment for the future of West Berkshire and the region as a whole. Local residents expected councils to deliver strong leadership and value for money, but the situation had become increasingly difficult for a Council of West Berkshire’s size over recent years.

It was also stressed that this was not reorganisation for its own sake, rather, the proposal was about designing a Council of a shape and size that could meet regional challenges, be financially stable, whilst also remaining connected to the places that the Members served. The Ridgeway proposal could take a broader and strategic view of the area, ensuring that residents were sustainably connected and properly linked up to key services.

Financial sustainability was also emphasised. The creation of two larger unitary authorities – Ridgeway and Oxford and Shires – would unlock economies of scale and the ability to rationalise services, resulting in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.