You may have heard from  West Berks Council over the last few months regarding the future of local government in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire and the proposals for reorganisation.     

 The governmenthave  announced that, from 1 April 2028, the seven existing councils will be replaced by three new unitary councils that cover the whole of Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.   

 For us, a new Ridgeway Council, will bring together West Berkshire and most of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts together under a new unitary authority. 

The government has carefully considered all three options on the table alongside the consultation feedback to reach its conclusion. In making its decision to take forward the three-council proposal, the government said this proposal will enable a better outcome overall for the areas. Ridgeway Council will create a viable southern authority with shared strategic interests and stronger capacity to plan and deliver services.  

 The full details of the three-council proposal can be found on  https://3councils.org/