Latest news with #RidgewayCouncil
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Berkshire Council says no to Reading's 'land grab' plans
A council has described a neighbouring authority's bid to expand its borders as a "hostile act".Reading Borough Council wants permission from the government to let it swallow up five villages on its western in Calcot, Tilehurst, Purley-on-Thames, Pangbourne and Theale currently have their bins emptied, schools run and potholes filled by West Berkshire may change though as the two councils jockey for both position and power as part of a wider shake-up of local government. It will be several years before anything actually changes in the Royal County but the cracks are already starting to appear in what appears - to outside eyes at least - to be the rather genteel world of local authorities. It all started back in the spring when West Berkshire Council announced - out of the blue - that it was looking to join forces with the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire to create a new bigger, combined council. The government says many local authorities are too small to deliver services cost-effectively and should merge to form larger councils that represent more Berkshire had not been instructed to merge with any other local authorities. However, with the government considering wider reorganisation, it said now would be a good time to join forces with the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire. So it proposed bringing the three predominantly rural councils together under what would be known as Ridgeway months Berkshire's other councils stood on the sidelines, saying nothing - in public at least. That was until Reading stepped out of the shadows saying it wanted to absorb the five West Berkshire villages into its own authority. It argued that many of the people living there already spent much of their time shopping, having fun and working in Reading. Speaking on BBC Radio Berkshire's breakfast show, West Berkshire Council's leader, the Liberal Democrat Jeff Brooks, bristled at the idea that people would be happier being looked after by Reading. He said his staff planned to go door-to-door to see how people really felt about the idea."It's a hostile act," he said. "It's unwelcome to all the people in those parishes and it's all part of this ambition of Reading to be a city, the 'Greater Reading' they want it to added: "What happens next? Do Reading then say 'oh, we'll have a piece of Earley as well?" His counterpart in Reading, Liz Terry, had already told BBC Radio Berkshire the council only started to think about expanding its western borders after West Berkshire made its move in March. She said: "Our belief is that Oxfordshire's final reorganisation proposals for the creation of a new Ridgeway Council should be considered by the secretary of state in conjunction with a review of existing boundaries between Reading and West Berkshire, because one markedly affects the other." This may seem trivial to some. The fact that two Berkshire councils have both appeared on their local radio station on consecutive days to make the case that they are the most natural fit for their current residents is not exactly earth-shattering again, a couple of years from now people could well find themselves saying "hold on a sec, why are I am paying more council tax to a local authority I didn't even know existed until a few months ago?"
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils' HQ approved
A new headquarters for two councils has been formally approved, more than 10 years after their last permanent base was destroyed by Oxfordshire District Council's (SODC) planning committee approved building the four-storey complex opposite Didcot Parkway train station on and Vale of White Horse District Council, which share staff, will use the building, having been based at Milton Park and Abbey House in Abingdon for the last had been based in Crowmarsh Gifford but that building was gutted in January 2015. The application for the new building was first submitted in August 2023 with the aim of being decided by May a number of amendments were made to the plans, which were submitted last November, in April and in June. SODC planning officers supported giving the new HQ planning permission. The authority received 45 objections from members of the public and three supporting comments. SODC and Vale Councils want to merge with West Berkshire Council to form Ridgeway Council, named after the ancient footpath that cuts through their any plans for local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire must be confirmed by the government. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South Oxfordshire and Vale councils' new HQ set for approval
Long-standing plans for two councils' new headquarters are set to be approved next week after facing various Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) wants to build the new four-storey complex opposite Didcot Parkway train station after its last permanent base, in Crowmarsh Gifford, was destroyed by fire in and Vale of White Horse District Council, which share staff, would use the building, having been based in Milton Park and Abbey House in Abingdon for the last councillors look set to approve the project at a meeting on Wednesday. The application was first submitted in August 2023 with the aim of being decided by May 2024. But a number of amendments were made to the plans, which were submitted last November, in April and this planning officers have said the HQ, which would accommodate 305 staff, should be authority received 45 objections from members of the public and three supporting comments. SODC and Vale Council want to merge with West Berkshire Council to form Ridgeway Council as part of for local government government will have the final say on how councils are organised in Oxfordshire. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Devolution: Oxfordshire County Council to put plans to government
A plan for devolution in Oxfordshire is set to be submitted to county council's cabinet is meeting later to agree on is expected to say that a new mayor for the region should cover Berkshire, Oxfordshire and are also set to make the case for one unitary council for the whole of Oxfordshire - which it has said could save taxpayers £27m a year. The government announced in December 2024 proposals to abolish district councils and introduce large mayoral combined authorities in England. The changes will be the most significant reforms to local government since areas have been "fast-tracked" - meaning they will not have planned elections this May and will instead push on with reorganisation and devolution. Oxfordshire was not successful in its bid to be included in the fast track scheme -but has been told by government to prepare plans for reorganisation, with changes set to be in put in place in 2028. 'A single front door' If agreed later, Oxfordshire County Council will tell government that it's "preferred geography" for a new mayoral authority will include Berkshire, Oxfordshire and a directly-elected regional mayor, there will be one or more unitary authorities covering Oxfordshire. The council's report sets out options for one, two or three councils covering the county - with the latter two options also including West Berkshire in a "Ridgeway Council".Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet is expected to back the idea of a single council for the authority's report, Liberal Democrat leader Liz Leffman said: "This Council would create a single front door for all local authority services across the historic and recognised county of Oxfordshire, delivering high-quality, value-for-money and responsive services to residents, businesses, institutions, visitors and investors."That position puts her at odds with other district councils in the area, who want to see a model with more than one council covering Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils have proposed they form a new authority, because of their "strong demographic and economic similarities" and "significant historical ties".Oxford City Council's leader Susan Brown has said there should be "separate councils for central, northern and southern Oxfordshire together with West Berkshire to reflect our distinct geographies". You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Berkshire and Oxfordshire councils to discuss potential unitary
Three councils will discuss the possibility of forming a new unitary authority covering parts of Berkshire and Oxfordshire next Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils have proposed they form a new authority, ahead of the government asking for plans for reorganisation later this initial proposal is titled Ridgeway Council, named after the ancient footpath that cuts through the three council government wants all new unitary authorities to serve about 500,000 residents or more and for every region to have a mayor. The three councils said they have "strong demographic and economic similarities" and "significant historic ties".They think the plan is a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" that would deliver high quality services and improve financial Berkshire's leader Jeff Brooks said the plan was an "exciting opportunity to establish a council that is ready for the future – one that works smarter, delivers better outcomes, and strengthens local democracy".David Rouane, South Oxfordshire Council's leader, said it would "provide a strong and effective foundation for the future… while maintaining and enhancing the unique character of our market towns and rural areas".While Bethia Thomas, Vale of White Horse Council's leader, said the authorities' "combined strengths would create a modern and effective local authority that puts people and communities at the heart of strong, health and robust local government, all white providing a firm base for wider regional growth".All of the councils will discuss the plans on 19 March, ahead of a potential submission to government for approval later this changes would be subject to public consultation. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
