The row over Reading Council’s attempted land grab for parts of the eastern area of West Berkshire has ratcheted up a notch.
Reading Councillors say West Berkshire had ‘jumped the gun’ in throwing its hat in with two other councils to its north, to propose forming a Ridgeway Council.
West Berkshire says Reading is just deflecting from the poor services it offers its residents.
Reading Borough’s Labour administration is to call for a boundary review that would bring Tilehurst parish, Calcot, Theale, Purley and Pangbourne under its wing if the new democratic map of Berkshire is drawn under the local government review.
“Very disappointing that they have continued with this attempted land grab – residents in those areas continue to tell me every day that they do not want to be part of a Greater Reading,” said West Berkshirre Council leader Jeff Brooks.
“They seem to be trying to deflect attention from the generally poor services they are delivering – I know what I would concentrate on, and it wouldn’t be looking to annex my neighbours’ parishes.”
The possibility of a Greater Reading has been floated in response to the reorganisation of local government in Oxfordshire. South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire councils are proposing to unite to form Ridgeway Council.
This issue was addressed at a Reading council meeting this week.
Micky Leng (Lab, Whitley), deputy leader, said: “If policy committee agrees the recommendations, the main message to areas concerned is that we want to engage with you and hear your views and questions.
“The proposal within the report has been brought to committee as a direct result of West Berkshire Council agreeing to be part of Oxfordshire’s Local Government Reorganisation proposals and the creation of the new Ridgeway authority, which would impact the largely urban area of Greater Reading.
“If West Berkshire is to be part of the Local Government Reorganisation, then the boundary should be reviewed to reflect the sensible economic geography of the area.
“The voice of all of our communities, including those with parish councils, is vital and will be part of the work planned between now and the end of November.”
Resident Simon Pike then asked what would happen for services people pay parish councils for.
Jackie Yates, chief executive, said the provisions in council tax law ensure that residents do not pay twice for those services.
Responding, Adele Barnet-Ward (Lab, Thames) called the comment “quite extraordinary.”
“Reading isn’t trying to do anything, Reading is a unitary authority, we’re not affected by local government reform,” she added. “West Berkshire is also a unitary authority, and is not required to do anything under the current reform.
“I think it’s quite extraordinary that West Berkshire has added themselves into a reorganisation that they haven’t been asked to do. I just find that bizarre.”
Agreeing, Raj Singh (Con, Kentwood) said: “I think the Lib Dem leader of West Berkshire has jumped the gun.
“I understand there was no pre-consultation with Reading beforehand.
“The best way forward is to reach out, take a collaborative approach,
rather than trying to be an island, it doesn’t work that way.”
And probably not what the West Berkshire Lib Dem leader would like to hear from one of his own party, albeit on a different council.
Anne Thompson (Lib Dem, Tilehurst) said: “We all want what’s best for Reading and wider Reading to make it work. People in Pangbourne are alarmed.”
She then questioned what would happen if an area strongly objected to becoming part of Reading Borough.
Any decision on a boundary review would be made by Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for local government.
Final reorganisation proposals must be submitted to the department for local government in November.
The policy committee unanimously agreed to develop a boundary review proposal in a request to Mrs Rayner at the meeting on Tuesday, July
21.
