West Berkshire Council Explained

West Berkshire Council
Coa Res:150
Coa Caption:Coat of arms
Logo Pic:West Berkshire Council logo.svg
Logo Res:250
Logo Alt:West Berkshire Council logo
Foundation:1 April 1974
House Type:Unitary authority
Leader1 Type:Chair
Leader1:Billy Drummond
Party1:
Liberal Democrats
Election1:9 May 2024[1]
Leader2 Type:Leader
Leader2:Jeff Brooks
Party2:
Liberal Democrats
Election2:9 May 2024
Leader3 Type:Chief Executive
Leader3:Nigel Lynn
Election3:18 October 2021
Seats:43 councillors
Structure1:West Berkshire Council composition 2024.svg
Structure1 Res:260
Structure1 Alt:West Berkshire Council composition
Political Groups1:
Administration (28)
  • Other parties (15)
  • Green (2)
  • Labour (1)
  • Independent (1)
  • Term Length:4 years
    Voting System1:Plurality-at-large
    Last Election1:4 May 2023
    Next Election1:6 May 2027
    Session Room:West Berkshire Council Offices.jpg
    Meeting Place:Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, RG145LD

    West Berkshire Council is the local authority of West Berkshire in Berkshire, England. The council was created in 1974 as Newbury District Council, and was a lower-tier district council until 1998. The district was renamed West Berkshire on 1 April 1998 when the council became a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

    The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2023. It is based at the Council Offices in Newbury.

    History

    The council was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 as the Newbury District Council. It replaced Bradfield Rural District Council, Hungerford Rural District Council, Newbury Borough Council, Newbury Rural District Council and Wantage Rural District Council.[2]

    From 1974 until 1998 Newbury District Council was a lower-tier district authority, with Berkshire County Council being the upper-tier authority for the area. In 1998 Berkshire County Council was abolished and the county's six districts became unitary authorities, taking over the functions of the county council within their respective areas.[3] During the transition period the council decided to change the district's name from Newbury to West Berkshire with effect from 1 April 1998, being the same day the council became a unitary authority.[4]

    In 2018, the Court of Appeal ruled that in entering a entering a development agreement with St. Modwen Properties to develop an industrial estate in Newbury, the Council had "effectively agreed to act unlawfully in the future". The disposal of the land in question was seen by the Council as a "land transaction" rather than a public works contract, and the opportunity to acquire the land was advertised so as to secure interested bids and "best consideration" in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972. The agreement allowed the developer the option to draw down land under a series of long leases, but if an option was taken up, the developer was contractually obliged to develop the site. The Court of Appeal, overruling the Administrative Court's judgment at first instance, held that such "contingent obligations" met the criteria for being considered a public works contract, whose procurement should have been undertaken in accordance with the full requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The development agreement was ruled "ineffective".[5] [6]

    Governance

    West Berkshire Council provides both district-level and county-level functions. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government.[7]

    Political control

    The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since the 2023 election.[8]

    Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[9] [10] [11]

    Newbury District Council

    Party in controlYears
    1974–1976
    1976–1991
    1991–1998

    West Berkshire Council (unitary authority)

    Party in controlYears
    1998–2003
    2003–2005
    2005–2023
    2023–present

    Leadership

    The leaders of the council since 1999 have been:[12]

    Councillor Party From To
    Keith Lock[13] 1999 2001
    Lena Rust[14] 2001 4 May 2003
    Royce Longton May 2003 10 May 2005
    Graham Jones 10 May 2005 27 Sep 2012
    Gordon Lundie[15] 27 Sep 2012 5 Nov 2015
    Roger Croft[16] 5 Nov 2015 24 Mar 2017
    Graham Jones[17] 9 May 2017 5 May 2019
    Lynne Doherty 21 May 2019 25 May 2023
    Lee Dillon[18] 25 May 2023 30 Apr 2024
    Jeff Brooks 9 May 2024

    Composition

    Following the 2023 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in October 2023, the composition of the council was:[19]

    PartyCouncillors
    28
    11
    2
    1
    1
    Total43
    The Greens, Labour and independent councillors sit together as the "Minority Group".[20] The next election is due in 2027.

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 24 wards, which each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[21]

    Premises

    The council's headquarters are the Council Offices on Market Street in Newbury. The building was purpose-built for Newbury District Council at a cost of £3.5 million and was completed in 1982.[22]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Hinman . Niki . New council leader elected at West Berkshire Council . 24 July 2024 . Newbury Today . 14 May 2024.
    2. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 23 February 2023.
    3. si. The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996. 1996. 1879. 23 February 2023.
    4. Web site: Historical information from 1973 onwards . Boundary-Line support . Ordnance Survey . 17 February 2023.
    5. 11KBW, Faraday Development Ltd v West Berkshire Council: Court of Appeal gives important guidance on development agreements and options, and declares contract ineffective, published 15 November 2018, accessed 3 January 2024
    6. Court of Appeal (Civil Division), Faraday Development Ltd. v West Berkshire Council, judgment dated 14 November 2018, accessed 3 January 2024
    7. Web site: Election Maps . Ordnance Survey . 19 February 2024.
    8. News: West Berkshire result - Local Elections 2023 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-05-05.
    9. Web site: Compositions calculator . The Elections Centre . 3 March 2023.
    10. News: England council elections. 10 May 2011. BBC News Online. 25 December 2014.
    11. News: English elect councils and mayors. 7 May 2005. BBC News Online. 26 December 2014.
    12. Web site: Council minutes . West Berkshire Council . 12 June 2022.
    13. News: Tributes continue to pour in for local councillor . 28 April 2023 . Newbury Today . 17 February 2011.
    14. News: West Berks Council hung - Lib Dems' 12-year grip over . 12 June 2022 . Get Reading . 2 May 2003.
    15. News: Low . Jonathan . Gordon Lundie stepping down as leader of West Berkshire Council . 12 June 2022 . Berkshire Live . 20 October 2015.
    16. News: Herring . John . Tributes paid to West Berkshire Council leader Roger Croft . 12 June 2022 . Newbury Today . 27 March 2017.
    17. News: Cooper . Dan . West Berkshire Council leader to stand down in May 2019 . 12 June 2022 . Newbury Today . 29 December 2018.
    18. News: Hinman . Niki . West Berkshire Council leader Lee Dillon quits to run as MP . 24 July 2024 . BBC News . 30 April 2024.
    19. Web site: Local elections 2023: live council results for England. The Guardian.
    20. Web site: Your councillors by political grouping . West Berkshire Council . 19 February 2024.
    21. si. The West Berkshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2018. 2018. 536. 20 February 2024.
    22. News: Builders hand over new HQ to council . 23 February 2023 . Reading Evening Post . 17 March 1982 . 7.