Council agrees action following debate on Government funding reductions

West Berkshire Council has agreed to write to a Government minister and local MPs after councillors discussed the significant reduction in the money received from central Government.

At an Extraordinary Council meeting held yesterday, councillors considered the implications of the recently confirmed funding settlement for the next three years. The settlement leaves West Berkshire among the hardest hit areas nationally, receiving just over a third of the average increase given to councils across the country.

The reduced funding means the Council will continue to have less money to spend on essential services, even if Council Tax rises by the maximum 4.99 percent each year. Over the next three years, West Berkshire will receive at least £28 million less from central Government. This follows a trend of annual decreases, occurring while more locally collected business rates are being distributed to other parts of the country.

Following the debate, councillors agreed that the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jeff Brooks, will write to local MPs Lee Dillon and Olivia Bailey to ask for their support in raising the issue directly with Government. He will also write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government to set out the significant challenges created by the settlement. In addition, the Leader will be discussing the matter with neighbouring Berkshire authorities to explore collective action in seeking fairer funding.

Councillor Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:

"This is an important issue for local residents and I want to thank the councillors who attended last night and who engaged so constructively in the discussion. We all want to deliver services that residents can be proud of, but this becomes increasingly challenging as we see these reductions in our spending every year.

"I will keep pressing this case with those who have the ear of ministers, and I will be working closely with our MPs and the other Berkshire councils to make sure West Berkshire's voice is heard. Our residents deserve better funding for the services they rely on every day, and we will continue to push for that."

Final preparations for the Council's 2026/27 budget are being made and will be published in early February, ahead of the Full Council meeting on Thursday 26 February.

You can watch the motion being debated at yesterday's Extraordinary Council meeting on our YouTube channel.