Six Berkshire unitary authorities talking to Government amid devolution 'county deal' plans

The six Berkshire unitary councils are joining forces for talks on the future of the county as a whole.

Discussions revolve around investment and infrastructure and are part of a Government thrust to devolve more powers to local authorities.

West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest and Slough councils are currently thrashing out their list of asks.

They have all agreed they will submit an expression of interest in a county devolution deal with the Government.

In the past, the Government has indicated to councils in the area that it would prefer them to pursue a regional devolution deal with councils in the wider area, including those in Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The Government has now changed tack and is seeking to devolve powers to county-sized footprints, and will consider the Berkshire idea.

“Currently, all six Berkshire council leaders are in the early stages of exploring the option to secure a 'County Deal' from government to support investment in the economy and infrastructure of the county,” said West Berkshire Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen).

“This follows changes announced by Government to the way such investment is managed going forwards.

“At this stage, the council leaders have agreed to have an exploratory discussion with Government.

“This is not about creating a needless combined authority or directly elected mayor, which would simply bring an additional level of administration and cost, it is about how we can support strategic investment benefitting all council areas, our residents and businesses.

“As with all our discussions and decisions, we are guided by what is best for West Berkshire.”

While in two-tier areas the county council is being expected to lead on the proposals, in Berkshire it has been proposed that governance could be executed through a joint committee made up of representatives from all six councils.

However, Slough chief executive Josie Wragg told the Local Government Chronicle in July that Berkshire’s four Conservative and two Labour-led administrations “probably don’t make for happy bedfellows”.

All six Berkshire unitaries were created in 1998.

Some have struggled to remain financially stable.

Slough, with 164,000 residents, was forced in July to issue a Section 114 notice after finding itself unable to balance its books.

And Windsor and Maidenhead, with 151,000 residents, also came close to bankruptcy last year. It was saved from it with part of the £1.6bn pandemic bailout from Government.

Individual councils’ financial woes are not currently being discussed as part of the devolution conversations.