West Berkshire Signs Multi-Million Highway Contract

West Berkshire Council has signed a multi-million-pound, seven-year highways contract just weeks before finding out if it will join South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse under planned local government reorganisation.

Councillors said procurement law left them no choice once the old contract ran out, so the new deal had to be awarded now. Details were kept behind closed doors.

Green councillor David Marsh asked: "Is there really no alternative? How is this going to work?"

Stuart Gourley, portfolio holder for highways said: "Our contract expires at the end of September and we have to have a suitable transition phase, so we need to make the timelines. Believe me when I say we are frustrated by this, but we had already taken out a three-year extension to this contract.

"We have to have continuity of service. It will be the same as all the other contracts if and when LGR happens. We were not allowed to extend this contract any more."

The move means that if the councils do combine, each authority could still end up with its own highways contractor - at least initially.

Ministers are expected to publish a 'minded-to' decision on the future of local government in the area before Parliament's summer recess (starting 16 July). A consultation closed in March after the government invited proposals in February 2025.

The options on the table are: one unitary council for Oxfordshire; two unitary councils (an Oxford and Shires council plus a Ridgeway council combining South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire); or three unitary councils (Greater Oxford, Northern Oxfordshire and Ridgeway).

Councils say they are working together to plan for any outcome and to keep services running during change. Existing town and parish councils would still provide very local services.

If government proceeds, a structural changes order is expected later in 2026, shadow authorities would be elected in May 2027 and the new council or councils would likely take effect on vesting day, currently expected to be 1 April 2028.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter