Agenda

To receive apologies for inability to attend the meeting (if any).

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.

Purpose: to seek approval for adoption of the new North Wessex Downs National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 for this National Landscape legally referred to as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Purpose: 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 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.