Berkshire councils are set to spend a total of £48,000 to help push a bid to join a new Thames Valley mayoral authority covering Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon.
The Labour government has started a local government reorganisation that would abolish county councils and create new mayors, aiming to cut complexity and costs. As part of that, councils have been asked to join up into regional combined authorities.
The Berkshire Prosperity Board — made up of the leaders of the six councils in the county — are due to each agree to pay £8,000 to develop the case for a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority. Oxfordshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council will also pay £8,000 each into the work.
The money will go on developing the strategic business case and material to support meetings with ministers. A report on the proposal says: “The budget uplift is to support the continuing development of the strategic business case.
“This includes developing a compelling pitchbook and other documentation in support of ministerial meetings and engagement with other government officials, working across the breadth of the Thames Valley.”
The report adds more investment is needed because the Prosperity Board’s central budget currently has a balance against expenditure of £11,103. The £8,000 spend from the Berkshire councils is due to be agreed at a meeting at Bracknell Forest Council on 16 March.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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