READING Borough Council has announced its intentions to make a formal request for a change to the boundary between Reading and West Berkshire.
Following local government reorganisation proposals submitted by Oxfordshire councils favouring the creation of a new Ridgeway council incorporating West Berkshire, Reading Borough Council is proposing a review of its boundary with West Berkshire.
It says this would be required to ‘accurately reflect the reality’ of Reading’s geography and its economic catchment area.
The current borough boundary between the two was drawn in 1911, over a century ago, since which Reading has since grown to become one of the largest towns outside of London.
The council argues that the town’s influence and urban area extends beyond existing boundary lines.
As a result, many West Berkshire residents living in largely urban areas near its eastern boundary have a strong connection to Reading and regularly commute into the town for work, leisure, education or to use other facilities.
The council believes that moving parts of this greater Reading urban area into a larger, mainly rural new ‘Ridgeway’ council is ‘at odds’ with the government’s criteria for local government reorganisation.
The government has stated proposals should be based on ‘sensible economic areas’ and being part of a larger predominantly rural ‘Ridgeway’ council could be to the detriment of those communities.
Reading Borough Council is proposing to submit a recommendation to the Secretary of State requesting they undertake a review of the boundary between Reading and West Berkshire, modifying the proposal for a new ‘Ridgeway’ council.
An initial outline proposal is for Calcot, Tilehurst, Theale, Pangbourne and Purley-on-Thames wards to move into an expanded Reading borough, linking these existing urban areas to the town.
The initial proposal would enable Council officers to carry out detailed analysis ahead of a decision on the final proposed geography of an expanded Reading borough being submitted to the Secretary of State.
The final recommendation, which would be considered by council for approval in November, will be submitted in parallel with Oxfordshire’s final proposals for local government reorganisation, which must be submitted by November this year.
With a working assumption from Government that new councils created through reorganisation should seek a population of 350,000 or more, this proposed modification would not compromise Oxfordshire’s proposals for a new ‘Ridgeway’ council.
The combined population of the five wards is 32,000, meaning the remaining populations for the two ‘Ridgeway’ proposals would be 387,000 and 431,000.
Reading’s proposal to request a review by the Secretary of State will be considered at a meeting of the Council’s Policy Committee on Monday. July 21.
Once final reorganisation proposals have been submitted by Oxfordshire in November, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will consult on the proposals.
It is understood Reading Borough Council will be a consultee of the Oxfordshire proposals.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “There is no doubt many residents on the western fringes of Reading look to the town, whether for work, transport connections, higher education, shopping or to use other facilities.
“In that respect, these are already suburbs of Reading and clearly fall within its economic catchment area.
“It isn’t clear where the new ‘Ridgeway’ council will be based, but I doubt people will want to travel into Oxfordshire to a location potentially 20 plus miles away, when Reading town centre is no more than six miles away with an excellent bus service.
She explained: “The Government’s clear guidance is that reorganisation plans should focus on sensible economic areas, and it is important proposals do not ignore the natural boundaries and connections of the town.
“It therefore makes more sense to link these urban areas to Reading, which we would argue is a better match.
“None of the Berkshire authorities, including West Berkshire, have been asked by Government to submit reorganisation plans at this time, but it is very clear that the proposals for a new ‘Ridgeway’ council would have a material impact on any proposals Reading may be required to submit in the future.”
She added: “Our belief is that Oxfordshire’s final reorganisation proposals for the creation of a new ‘Ridgeway’ council should be considered by the Secretary of State in conjunction with a review of existing boundaries between Reading and West Berkshire, because one markedly affects the other.
“The Government responded to Oxfordshire’s three interim reorganisation proposals in June by stressing the importance of proposals meeting the criteria for reorganisation, and the need to consider the implications of any proposal on the wider area.
“In response, we will be making the case that only an expanded Reading can properly reflect its economic geography.”
Consultation on Reading Borough Council’s initial proposals will be opened after Policy Committee has made its decision on Monday, July 21.
This will be available on the council website via reading.govocal.com
