Slough Borough Council ‘is probably not going to exist much longer’ its leader has said – as it faces potentially having to merge with a neighbour.
Plans published by the government in December say unitary local authorities – such as Slough – may have to merge with others if they cover a population under 500,000.
Council leader Dexter Smith said this meant Slough Borough ‘is probably not going to exist much longer anyway due to local government reform’.
Cllr Smith’s remark was the latest in a series of comments from the council on its uncertain future.
The council has not yet been asked to merge with another local authority by the government.
But a government policy document – known as a white paper – published in December suggested that this might be on the cards.
It said unitary authorities such as Slough might be asked to reorganise ‘where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services’.
The white paper says that ‘for most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more’ although ‘there may be exceptions’.
It also says councils might be asked to merge ‘where there is evidence of failure’.
Slough Borough Council’s chief executive Will Tuckley said in March that this meant ‘it is expected that the council will need to merge with other councils, as it is a small unitary council’.
In February, council leaders were also briefed on several possible scenarios if the government did ask it to merge.
Possibilities included merging with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and potentially also Bracknell Forest to become an East Berkshire council – or even into a council covering the whole county.
They also included a merger with one or more west London boroughs, with the ‘potential to also consider a merger with Buckinghamshire’.
Separately, Slough Borough Council has been asked to come up with proposals to join forces with others under a new ‘strategic authority’.
This would be a new, top layer of local government responsible for managing transport, infrastructure and development across a larger region. Unitary councils would sit beneath it.
Councils in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Swindon have discussed forming a Thames Valley strategic authority.
Cllr Smith made his remark at an full council meeting on Thursday, 15 May while describing his ambition for Slough to become a ‘best value council’ by November 2026.
He said he had expanded his cabinet – the body of leading cllrs – to its maximum of ten members to achieve this.
Cllr Robert Stedmond was appointed as a new cabinet member and will be responsible for housing, temporary accommodation and estate renewal.
Cllr Smith said: “If we can indeed achieve this best value status for Slough Borough Council it will be a defining legacy for a council that probably is not going to exist much longer anyway due to local government reform.”
