A formal request is set to be made for Tilehurst, Calcot, and other western suburbs to be brought under the control of Reading Borough Council.
The Labour government is pursuing the abolition of county and district councils, prompting counties which have these councils to devise reorganisation plans.
Oxfordshire is one of the counties affected, with the County Council proposing to split into two new entities: the ‘Oxford and Shires Council’ and ‘Ridgeway Council’.
The latter of these would unite South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire councils, which are all controlled by Liberal Democrats.
The Labour administration at Reading Borough Council is considering submitting a request for the western suburbs of Reading to be brought under its control.
An initial outline proposal is for Calcot, Tilehurst, Theale, Pangbourne, and Purley-on-Thames to be moved into an expanded Reading Borough.
The request for a boundary review would have to be submitted to Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for local government.
Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the 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.
“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.
“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.”
A decision to request a boundary review is due to be made by Reading council’s policy committee on Monday, July 21.
