Council welcomes announcement that a new Ridgeway Council will go ahead

West Berkshire Council has welcomed confirmation from the Government that it’s minded to proceed with local government reorganisation (LGR) across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

The proposal – including the creation of a new Ridgeway Council for West Berkshire, and most of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse – was paused last month while the Government reviewed its wider programme of local government reorganisation. The outcome of that review, published today, explains the government has taken a fresh decision to introduce the three new unitary councils for the area.

The Minister has indicated that a short period will be allowed to enable councils to make any representations on this new decision before a firm decision is made by the end of the year.

Under the plans, the seven existing county, unitary and district councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will be replaced by three new unitary authorities, including:

• Ridgeway Council covering West Berkshire, and most of the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts
• Northern Oxfordshire Council covering Cherwell and West Oxfordshire
• Greater Oxford Council covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings

West Berkshire Council has consistently supported the creation of a Ridgeway Council and has worked closely with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils throughout the reorganisation process.

Elections for the new unitary councils will take place in May 2028, after which shadow authorities will be created to plan the new councils, but will not deliver services.

On 1 April 2029, the seven existing councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will end and the three new unitary councils will be created. Serving councillors’ terms of office will continue until the existing councils come to an end on vesting day.

Welcoming the Government’s announcement, Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said: “We’re very pleased that the Government has reiterated its support for the three-council model and we’re keen to get on with delivering it for local residents. The new Ridgeway Council will bring together communities with strong existing links while creating a larger, stronger, and more resilient organisation that is well placed to protect and enhance the services local people rely on.

“This is good news notwithstanding that we didn’t quite get the Ridgeway Council we wanted. However, whilst we are sorry about the loss of some important wards to a new Greater Oxford council, we are committed to working with colleagues across Oxfordshire to deliver local government reorganisation.

“The delay means we will hold ordinary elections to West Berkshire Council next year, and elections will also take place a year after that to Ridgeway Council, which will operate as a shadow authority until 1 April 2029.

“We look forward to delivering local government reorganisation with our partners across Oxfordshire, and to providing essential services for the communities that we serve.”

The councils involved will continue working together on detailed transition planning ahead of the establishment of the new authorities. Residents will continue to receive services from their existing councils throughout the transition period and further updates will be provided as plans progress.

The district council elections in South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will go ahead in May 2027 on the existing council boundaries.

Find out which new council will serve your community and what this means for your area: 3councils.org