A date has been set to debate the future of West Berkshire in a larger, combined authority.
A date has been set for the upcoming debate on West Berkshire’s future within a larger, combined authority.
The discussions will occur in November, with local councils preparing to tackle this issue ahead of the Government's submission deadline on November 28.
West Berkshire is proposed to be part of the new Ridgeway Council, which would also include South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.
Scrutiny committees and councils across the seven councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will discuss and approve the necessary documents for Government submission.
The Government will determine how unitarisation will unfold in the region, with an announcement expected in mid-2026.
According to current plans, a shadow authority will start operating in April 2027, with the full structure expected to be established by April 1, 2028.
Meanwhile, Theale residents are being surveyed by the parish council on whether the village should become part of Reading, as the Reading Borough Council is keen to annex the eastern areas of West Berkshire.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
