Council Disappointment at Local Government Reorganisation Decision

Reading Borough Council has expressed its disappointment at today’s Government decision to create a new ‘Ridgeway’ council as part of Local Government Reorganisation proposals for Oxfordshire, without agreeing to consider changes to Reading’s western boundary.

The Government today confirmed its decision to create three unitary councils for Oxfordshire, which includes the creation of a new ‘Ridgeway’ council incorporating the current footprint of West Berkshire Council.

Reading Borough Council’s proposed amendment that the West Berkshire wards of Tilehurst Birch Copse, Tilehurst & Purley, and Tilehurst South & Holybrook should be moved into Reading has not been agreed. We believe the Council made the case that the three Tilehurst wards are suburbs of Reading and have been for many years. Moving them into a predominantly rural new ‘Ridgeway’ Council contradicts the Government’s prescribed criteria that LGR proposals should be based on ‘sensible economic geography.’

Commenting on today’s confirmation from Government that there will be no boundary review for Reading, Council Leader Liz Terry said:

“This is obviously a disappointing decision from Reading’s perspective. Our western boundary line was created well over a century ago and for many years now it has failed to reflect the reality of patterns of daily living.

“We know that Tilehurst residents living in West Berkshire rely heavily on Reading’s services. The LGR process was an opportunity to put that right by fundamentally strengthening local democracy and aligning where people pay their Council Tax and where decisions are made, with local identity, local services and those patterns of daily living. People who know Reading will understand that these wards are already effectively suburbs of the town and have been for many years.

“The Council awaits further information on how this decision was reached and will consider its position and seek opportunities to make its case again. Reading has a hugely powerful economy and is an economic driver for the region and economy nationally. We believe our outlook mirrors the Government’s own ambitions for economic growth to be driven by our towns and cities and Reading should be at the forefront of any future decisions on reorganisation in Berkshire.”