Councils in Berkshire are set to spend a total of £48,000 on an upcoming merger with Oxford and Swindon.
The Labour government has initiated a reorganisation of local government that will see the abolition of county councils and the creation of new mayors.
The abolition of county councils is a priority, with the stated aim of reducing complexity and cutting costs.
Separately, the government has asked councils to join up with each other to create new regional local authorities.
The Berkshire Prosperity Board is made up of the leaders of the six councils in the county.
They are set to agree to spend £8,000 each to develop a case to the government to create the Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority, which would cover Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon.
This investment will go into making the argument that the Thames Valley should be unified into a combined authority led by a mayor, who will make strategic decisions on planning, housing, transport and other major policies.
A report into the proposed investment states: “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 also states that more investment is needed as the current central budget for the Prosperity Board has a balance against expenditure of £11,103.
Oxfordshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council will also pay £8,000 each into making the case for the Thames Valley strategic authority.
The £8,000 expenditure from the Berkshire councils is set to be agreed at a meeting at Bracknell Forest Council on March 16.
