'New powers' for Thames Valley in devolution plan

A devolution plan, which could bring new powers and increased funding to leaders in the Thames Valley, is poised to become a reality.

Earlier this week, Liberal Democrat leaders of Oxfordshire and Windsor and Maidenhead councils wrote to the government to confirm their hopes for a Thames Valley devolved area, which would include Swindon.

Chancellor John Healey confirmed in his budget earlier that the government was in the final stages of agreeing 10 new devolution deals, which would include the Thames Valley.

"[These are] new powers to the people who know their areas best – not sentimentality but supply-side economics. The biggest wave of devolution in a generation," Healey said.

The new Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority would make key decisions on things like transport, infrastructure, housing and investment.

The government says this combined approach will give Swindon, Berkshire and Oxfordshire better control over issues which affect their communities.

Local councils would still continue to be responsible for delivering day-to-day services such as waste collections, social care, housing, schools, leisure and local planning.

A Thames Valley mayoral election could be held as soon as 2028.

Gary Sumner, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said the announcement was "a landmark moment" for the Thames Valley, while Jim Robbins, Labour leader in Swindon, said he was delighted at the news.

However, some party leaders are not convinced about their potential new Thames Valley partners.

In a letter sent to the government on Wednesday, the leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Maggie Filipova-Rivers, explained how they would have preferred Buckinghamshire to be included in the Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority.

She also criticised how long her council had to reply to proposals.

"I am concerned that councils were given just two working days to consider proposals that could reshape public service boundaries across the Thames Valley for years to come," Filipova-Rivers said.

"However, we have decided to support the decision to proceed to the next phase of discussions because it is important that residents have the opportunity to understand both the benefits and any implications of these proposals."

Buckinghamshire's current exclusion, she said, could impact the roll-out of public services, like healthcare and policing.

While Swindon leaders say their abundance of brownfield sites could supercharge new home targets for the wider Thames Valley area, it has also been argued in the past that the Wiltshire town is simply too distant from its neighbours.

The town's inclusion in the group had been a bone of contention and led to claims in Swindon that the situation was "like not being invited to the party with the popular kids".

The leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Liberal Democrat Tim Bearder, previously said: "With no offence to my friends in Wiltshire, you are not in the Thames Valley."

To which Sumner, responded: "Perhaps they don't like the cut of Swindon's jib... perhaps they think they're too good for us."

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