Agenda item

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.

Resolved that: Executive

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

d)    Approves 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 a working title of ‘Oxford & Shires’.

e)    Subject to recommendation d) being approved, notes that 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.

f)     Delegate to the Executive Director for Resources the authority, with the agreement of the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, Economic Development and Regeneration and Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, to make changes to the proposal document in Appendix A prior to the submission to Government.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      the item has been considered by a Scrutiny Committee, or Scrutiny Task Group, or has been the subject of a review undertaken by another body within the preceding six months.

·      the item is due to be referred to Council for final approval.

·      a delay in implementing the decision this would cause the Council serious financial implications or could compromise the Council's position.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Councillor Justin Pemberton introduced and proposed a report (Agenda Item 4), which proposed the approval of the Local Government Reorganisation Full Proposal for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire for submission to Government. It was noted that the report had previously been reviewed and discussed by Council and Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Pemberton clarified that the report was proposed with the amendment set out at recommendation (f). It was noted that the recommendation had been included to take account of comments made by Green Party Members to include an ambition statement ‘to deliver strong action on climate change and promote nature recovery’; and also to acknowledge that there were some amendments required to existing legal structures in relation to the Fire Authority in Oxfordshire.

Councillor Pemberton commented that the pack presented a formal proposal for a two unitary authority submission; to the south, a proposal for West Berkshire Council to merge with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils to form the new Ridgeway Council; and to the north a proposal to merge Oxford City Council with West Oxfordshire and Cherwell District Councils to form an Oxford and Shires Council. 

It was acknowledged that there were financial implications to the Proposal, the costs and benefits of which were set out within the report. Councillor Pemberton noted that two sets of savings related to the initial transition savings and transformation savings arising from potential transformation programmes.

It was noted that the final Proposal was a result of extensive engagement with residents, businesses and affected stakeholders.

Councillor Pemberton clarified that following Executive decision, the Government was expected to decide on the proposal in the summer of 2026, following which it was anticipated that elections would take place in May 2027.  

Councillor David Marsh queried what would happen to West Berkshire Council Members in May 2027 if the Proposal was approved. He further suggested that ward sizes were likely to be much larger and queried how quickly the Boundary Commission would review this. He further queried whether Unison would be involved in the ongoing Ridgeway process.

Councillor Jeff Brooks commented that there was a need in transition for services to be provided until the new authority was able to take over and suggested that West Berkshire Council was likely to continue until 2028, whilst the shadow authority was setting up its staffing, budget and structure, for its first year in existence of 2028/29.

Councillor Brooks commented that ward sizes varied across the country and that a Boundary Commission review was likely to take place in the first electoral period of Ridgeway Council. 

Councillor Pemberton noted that the Proposal had been completed within the timescales and criteria set by Government and had worked on the basis that across Ridgeway there would be 96 councillors, 38 of which would be based in West Berkshire. This had relied on a basic approach of reducing three member wards to two, which would increase the number of residents within a ward but was not felt to be contrary to other areas in the country.

Councillor Ross Mackinnon offered his full support for the Proposal

Councillor Brooks noted that he had met with Unison that day and provided assurances that they would be consulted in relation to any change and progress going forward with the Proposal.

Councillor Brooks seconded the recommendations with the report and noted that it was real opportunity for residents and staff of West Berkshire.

RESOLVED that: Executive

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

d)    Approves 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 a working title of ‘Oxford & Shires’.

e)    Subject to recommendation d) being approved, notes that 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.

f)     Delegates to the Executive Director for Resources the authority, with the agreement of the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, Economic Development and Regeneration and Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, to make changes to the proposal document in Appendix A prior to the submission to Government.