Political Jenga. The devolution dilemna for West Berkshire
Devolution in England is gaining momentum, with new deals shifting powers from Westminster to local and regional authorities.
After a decade of devolution, a dozen English regions are now led by mayors who, in partnership with local government, control key economic powers and budgets. But devolution has unfolded unevenly.
Outside London, almost all of the South has been excluded.
Labour has come to power committed to widening devolution.
Local leaders in ‘devolution deserts’ have been invited to submit proposals for how they will work with neighbouring areas to take on devolved powers.
West Berkshire is in the middle of one of those deserts.
But could it use its small, but strategically important position to its advantage?
West Berkshire sits at a point along the M4 corridor – usefully convenient for Reading, Heathrow… and going the other way, Bristol.
While it can't quite argue it is Berkshire’s strategic equivalent to the Suez Canal, providing a handy through route for global commerce, it might explain why the district of 170,000 people is keeping quiet as the political machinations for a new mayoral authority in the region form up.
So let’s look at the geography of it. And who wants to get into bed with who.
How these councils navigate devolution will shape the region’s future in areas such as transport, infrastructure, housing and economic development.
“We must rewire England and end the hoarding in Whitehall by devolving power and money from central government to those with skin in the game,” Deputy PM Angela Rayner said.
While West Berkshire sits in a good spot between the likes of Reading, Swindon, and further along the M4, Bristol, it is one of the smaller populations.
Any devolution arrangement would need to balance its local, largely rural identity with economic and infrastructure ties to nearby urban centres.
One of the primary benefits of devolution is said to be greater financial autonomy.
Currently, many councils along the M4 corridor rely on central government funding, often tied to specific projects or national priorities.
Under devolution deals, local leaders will gain more control over how money is allocated, allowing them to invest in projects that best serve their communities.
Regional mayors will also be introduced for all areas.
Given its location and economic profile, there are two realistic devolution models that could suit West Berkshire:
One is the Thames Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) aligning with Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
A mayoral combined county authority across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire would bring together the world-class research sector in Oxfordshire with neighbouring major urban centres like Reading and Slough to spur growth.
The health board already operates across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire – but the elephant in the room with this possible model is that the likes of Buckinghamshire might well decide to go it alone.
Thames Valley Police already runs across this geography.
But. It is a potential fit for West Berkshire to tuck in under the wing, as it could benefit from nearby economic hubs such as Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and possibly Oxfordshire.
This model would reflect the area’s existing economic interdependencies and transport links while maintaining local distinctiveness.
This grouping would potentially suit west Berkshire best because of economic alignment.
The Thames Valley is a key driver of the UK economy, home to major technology, life sciences, and finance companies.
West Berkshire, with its business hubs in Newbury and Thatcham, would benefit from investment in innovation, digital infrastructure, and skills development.
It’s also the one of the more attractive of the districts, with most of the land mass covered in National Landscape, and so could suit the executive property market serving those urban areas well.
Devolution often comes with greater powers over housing and planning policy, which could help councils along the M4 corridor address the region’s housing crisis.
High demand and limited supply have driven up house prices, particularly in commuter towns such as Newbury, Maidenhead and Slough.
With more control over planning rules and funding mechanisms, councils could accelerate housebuilding, encourage affordable housing developments, and introduce policies tailored to local needs.
For example, Swindon and Reading might prioritise brownfield regeneration to ease urban sprawl, while West Berkshire could focus on sustainable rural development.
Another good fit is in transport co-ordination.
The A34 corridor and M4 are essential to West Berkshire’s connectivity.
A devolution deal covering this area could improve transport planning, including better rail and road links between Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and London.
West Berkshire faces pressure for housing growth, but as a largely rural district, it must balance expansion with environmental concerns.
A Thames Valley approach could ensure housing targets are met without compromising the area’s character.
Although that might not time out well with the Government’s ambitious housing targets and timescale.
But in short, a Thames Valley devolution model would suit West Berkshire by reinforcing economic ties while protecting its semi-rural nature from being overshadowed by the urban priorities of Reading or Slough.
Local government across England is often referred to as a patchwork.
Some places have both district and county councils that each provide some services; some places have one council that does everything, and some places have a mayor who oversees that.
Rayner's plan is to make the system similar across England.
So bins and libraries, planning and leisure centres will all fall under one, single council.
The Government says merging councils could save £2bn.
That comes amid a bleak picture of council finances across the country. West Berkshire has just gone cap in hand to the Government for a £16m bailout.
West Berkshire could also look West for a devolution solution, much as Wiltshire’s brash and contrasting town of Swindon seems to be looking east.
Swindon Borough Council’s leader Jim Robbins said the council has been looking at opportunities in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
West Berkshire could align with Swindon, Wiltshire, and possibly South Oxfordshire in a broader western economic partnership. (Although it would seem from recent comments that Swindon is emerging as an unpopular bedfellow.)
Bethia Thomas, the leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, stated her preference that the strategic authority area be focused on the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West area (familiarly known as the BOB), or the Thames Valley.
She said: “I would not support the inclusion of Swindon within such an authority, because I do not believe that they are economically or demographically linked to the BOB or the wider Thames Valley area in the same way the Berkshires or Buckinghamshire are.”
But it could create a more balanced devolution group, avoiding excessive reliance on Reading while still maintaining economic ties along the M4.
Again, this could work for West Berkshire using an economic diversification argument.
Swindon and Wiltshire have strong logistics, engineering, and defence sectors, which complement West Berkshire’s business landscape, eg Vodafone and the presence of AWE at Burghfield and Aldermaston.
Transport investment in this region could focus on improving links between Swindon, Newbury, and Oxford, rather than concentrating on the Thames Valley-London axis.
There have been discussions for years about the ‘halo’ route connecting Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford and the Harwell science park, just up the A34 from Newbury.
So far, West Berkshire’s Lib Dem administration is remaining tight lipped on its preference.
Although council leader Jeff Brooks does attend regular talks with the neighbouring councils on the matter.
And West Berks is still involved with the other five councils in Berkshire, with a a joint expression of interest form to launch talks about devolution without a mayor lodged with the government last September.
Bracknell Forest BC, Slough BC, Windsor and Maidenhead RBC, Reading BC, Wokingham BC and West Berkshire Council voted to move forward with a county wide deal that rules out a mayoral option despite fears it may put their request “down in the queue”.
The political make up of the unitaries includes two Labour, two Liberal Democrat, one Conservative minority-led administration and one coalition between the borough first independents and Liberal Democrats.
So political as well as geographical Jenga needs to be played on a county as well as multi county proposal.
West Berkshire also has a distinct identity compared to more urbanised parts of Berkshire.
A partnership with western neighbours might allow for greater local influence rather than being dominated by Reading’s needs.
A Thames Valley combined authority would likely provide the best economic opportunities, linking West Berkshire to Reading, Oxford, and the wider knowledge economy.
However, a Western Berkshire-Swindon partnership would allow for a more regionally focused, less London-centric approach, keeping governance closer to local needs.
Ultimately, the best model depends on whether West Berkshire prioritises economic integration with the Thames Valley or seeks a more balanced regional identity alongside Swindon and Wiltshire.
Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset councils have joined forces to propose that they share a mayor for what they hope to call Wessex.
If the M4 corridor were to form a devolved economic region, it could benefit from a dedicated growth strategy, akin to those seen in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
The M4 corridor is notorious for congestion, with key junctions around Bristol, Reading, and Heathrow regularly facing bottlenecks.
Devolution could allow councils to take a more strategic, coordinated approach to transport planning. With control over local transport budgets, authorities could invest in smart traffic management systems, improved rail links, and enhanced cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Despite its potential benefits, devolution is not without challenges.
Councils must navigate complex governance structures, ensuring that new powers are effectively managed and that different areas receive fair investment.
The introduction of elected mayors or combined authorities could create tensions between existing councils and new regional bodies.
Additionally, funding remains a concern. While devolution promises more local control, it does not always guarantee increased financial support.
And councils must ensure that decentralised budgets are sufficient to meet infrastructure and public service needs.
This has all been put on a three-year timescale by government. Which considering the complexity of it all, seems ambitious.
